DIVINE INTERVENTION
(Filmscript by John Francis. Copyright2006)
BLACK
FADE TO;Exterior street scene.Two youths are in a shop doorway smoking.They are
eying up the scene looking for their next victim.An elderly lady walks up the street.One
youth nudges the other.They put out their cigarettes and wait for the lady to
approach.One steps in front,the other behind and snatches her bag.They both run away
with the lady left cursing and disraught.A passer by comes to the woman’s aid and
phones the police on his mobile.
CUT TO; Eddys’ bedroom.There are posters of Coldplay on the walls.Eddy is trying(very
badly)to play a battered acoustic guitar.There is a knock at the door.Eddys’ mother
shouts his name.Eddy runs downstairs and falls down the last steps.He opens the door to
see his friends Dilraj and Dave.
EDDY
Oh, ’ello
DILRAJ
Can we come in?
EDDY
Yeah.Room’s in a mess though.
(They walk past him and go upstairs to his bedroom)
DAVE
What you been doin’ then Eddy?
EDDY
Just tryin’ to work out these Coldplay chords.Listen
(Dilraj nervously glances at Dave whilst Eddy plays and sings a bad rendition of a
Coldplay number.After a few bars he runs into difficulty and looks at the boys)
DILRAJ
Yeah great Eddy
EDDY
I’ve gotta practice the next bit.That’s what I was doin’ when you knocked
DILRAJ
Yeah sounds really great Eddy,dunnit Dave?
DAVE
A?
EDDY
So what you been doin’ Dave?
DAVE
Nuffin.What you been doin’?
EDDY
I was doin’ them chords when you knocked;you want me to play it again?
DAVE
A?
DILRAJ
No,that’s alright Eddy.
EDDY
So what you been doin’ Dilraj?
DILRAJ
Nuffin’ really
EDDY
What,like Dave?
DAVE
A?
DILRAJ
Oh yeah,I see what you mean.(pause) Yeah….that’s right….nuffin’ really.
EDDY
Wanna drink?
DILRAJ
What ya got?
EDDY
There’s some Seven up ‘ere.(Reaches for a very old and dusty can.Dilraj looks at it and
decides not to drink it and hands it to Dave.Dave drinks the whole can under the watchful
eyes of Eddy and Dilraj.Dave belches loudly and puts the can down on the floor)
Want some more Dave?
DAVE
A?
DILRAJ
Do ya want some more Seven up?
DAVE
Got Coke?
EDDY
No,I threw it away.
DAVE
Wot?
EDDY
It went kind of unfizzy like
DAVE
It wuz alright
DILRAJ
That was Seven up Dave
DAVE
Tasted like Coke
DILRAJ
Nah, that was Seven up Dave
DAVE
Don’t like Seven up
DILRAJ
But you drank it
DAVE
A?
EDDY
Wanna biscuit?
DILRAJ
Nah
EDDY
What you doin’ today?
DILRAJ
Nuffin’ really are we Dave?
DAVE
A?
EDDY
I was goin’ out to get some chips.You comin’?
DILRAJ
Yeah alright.
DAVE
Got any biscuits?
(Eddy and Dilraj jostle Dave out of the room and go downstairs.Eddys’ mum appears in
the hallway)
EDDYS’ MUM
Where you goin’ Eddy?
EDDY
Out to get some chips
EDDYS’ MUM
Gettus packet of fags
EDDY
Ain’t got enough money ma
EDDYS’ MUM
Ah fuck it.I’ll see if I’ve got any in the pot.’Old on.
(Goes to the kitchen.Comes out with some change)
Just gettus 10 Regal and give us the change back.
EDDY
Alright
(The boys leave and enter the street.It is raining steadily.They pull their coats around
them)
DILRAJ
Fuckin’ weather
DAVE
Yeah,it’s fuckin’rainin’ again
EDDY
Always fuckin’ rainin’
(They walk past a burnt-out car.They inspect it.Dave sticks his head through the
window.A pigeon flies out and scares him.They approach and enter a newsagent.Eddy
goes up to buy a packet of cigarettes.Two youths in hoods run up to the till and hold up
the owner.They escape with the money while the boys look aimlessly at the whole scene.)
SHOPKEEPER
Did you see that?
EDDY
Yeah.Can I ‘ave 10 Regal?
(Eddy hands him some coins)
SHOPKEEPER
You are joking aren’t you?Look,the little bastards have cleaned me out!
EDDY
Well,have you got change for £1?
SHOPKEEPER
Go on fuck off before I call the police!
DILRAJ
No wonder you get robbed swearin’ at customers like that
(The shopkeeper makes a move for them and the boys run out of the shop and down the
street.A police car approaches the end of the street.The boys turn around and run in the
opposite direction.They run down an alleyway and over a garden fence.As they run
across a patio Dave notices a couple making love in their living room.He stops to have a
look.Dilraj pulls him away and they continue to run through the gardens until they come
to another alleyway.They stop to catch their breath.)
EDDY
Phew! We’ve lost them.
CUT TO;Police car slowly edging to the end of the alleyway.
CUT TO;Frozen figure of Eddy.
EDDY
Run!
CUT TO; Boys running down the alleyway and scrambling over a hedge and into a
street.They look behind themselves and check out the surroundings as they make their
way through another small street.They notice a shop with the sign outside
saying,”Holistic May:Your fortune in your hands”.They enter the shop.They sit down on
some old chairs in a small room which is bordered by a dark velvet curtain.After a few
minutes silence a voice comes from behind the curtain.
MAY(Clairvoyant)
What do you seek?
EDDY
Wot you got?
MAY
(Pause) ………..Answers
EDDY
Alright,sounds good
MAY
Enter
CUT TO;Small room with two chairs and a table.May is seated wearing a mystical
Romany outfit.Eddy enters and is seated opposite May.
CUT TO;Mays’ face.She is going into a trance.
CUT TO;Eddys’ curious face.
MAY
I see family disputes,arguments
EDDY
Cor,yeah you’re right.My mum will kill me.I didn’t get the fags
MAY
I see a leader amongst men
EDDY
What me?
MAY
A leader to take all(pauses for breath)..take all to salvation and redemption
EDDY
Wow! What else can you see?
MAY
I see a church….a priest..
EDDY
Nah,don’t go to church me
MAY
I see….I see
(Eddy gets up to leave)
EDDY
Nah,yer wrong there.Last time I went to church was me nan’s funeral. Fucking borin’ it
was
MAY
I see a….a..
(Eddy leaves the room)
CUT TO;Adjoining room where Dave and Dilraj are waiting)
DILRAJ
What did she say?
EDDY
Aw,a load of old bollocks really.I tell you,that old dear got a couple of fuckin’ screw’s
loose if you ask me.
(They leave the shop)
CUT TO;May in her reading room
MAY
I see(wakes up) an angel!
CUT TO;Street corner.Two youths are doing a small drug deal.The dealer is left
counting his money.He lights up a joint.The three boys walk past him.
LEROY(Dealer)
Hey bluds,sort you a 10 draw?
DAVE
A?
LEROY
Sort you a 10 draw.
EDDY
What’s that?
DILRAJ
(Nudges Eddy)Eddy man,wake up.No thanks man we don’t do it.
LEROY
What? You some batties?
EDDY
Batties?
LEROY
Aw fuck off man. Danna waste my time
(They walk on)
DILRAJ
You idiots.That was Leroy.
EDDY
So?
DILRAJ
Leroy Stevens,one of the biggest dealers in the area.
EDDY
What,car dealer?
DILRAJ
No.you fuckin’ burst condom;Drugs…
EDDY
What, … DRUGS?????
DILRAJ
SHHH!!!
DAVE
(laughing)What,…DRUGS?????
DILRAJ
(kicks Dave really hard) Shut up you fuckin’ idiots
(Dave crumples to the floor in agony and writhes on the pavement whilst Dilraj
continues to talk to Eddy)
Yeah,drugs.Him and a few of his mates control the whole area,so if you want to stay
alive with all your limbs and your face intact you keep your mouth shut.Understand?
EDDY
Yeah,sorry mate I didn’t realise
DILRAJ
(shakes his head)Didn’t realise.Are you really that thick Eddy?I mean do you stay up in
that room of yours all day?
EDDY
Yes..Nnno I don’t
DILRAJ
I mean,I give you some respect.Your’e not in that category(Looks down at Dave who is
still on the floor,but has taken his socks and shoes off by now)
Come on ,lets get this guy up.
(They help Dave up and walk along the street with Dave hobbling behind them trying to
put on his shoes and socks)
CUT TO;A lounge where a middle aged woman(Mama Stevens) is singing to a religious
television programme. Leroy, her son enters.
MAMA STEVENS
Leroy! Where have you been?
LEROY
Out
MAMA S.
But that was two hours ago.What in the Lords ‘ name have you been doing?You said you
were only going to be ten minutes.
LEROY
Saw m’ homies
MAMA S.
Homies?What are you saying?The good Lord gave you a tongue.Go and use it properly
LEROY
Homies;my friends.
MAMA S.
Well,why didn’t you say so in the first place.You know all that talk is gangster talk.I’ve
been hearin’about it from the television here.You know Father Jellicoe was sayin’ Now
where are you goin’ now child?
LEROY
To my room
(Re-enters the room by sticking his head around the door)
Cotchin’ in ma yard
MAMA S.
Tut!
CUT TO:The boys in Ronnies Café.They are sat around the table with a cup of tea
between the three of them and a straw each.
EDDY
You know,someone ought to do something about all this crime and that in this area.I
mean,it’s not safe anymore.
DILRAJ
Yeah,so who’s going to sort it then?
EDDY
Well,I saw this programme on the telly last week about this neighbourhood scheme in
America.They did it.
DILRAJ
That’s the States Eddy.
EDDY
Yeah I know but we could do it here
DILRAJ
We?You are joking aren’t you?
EDDY
Yeah,we could set up like a community team to clean
DILRAJ
You’re not fuckin’ serious are you?
EDDY
Yeah I
(Diraj gets up to leave)
Where are you going?
DILRAJ
I’m going some place where I can have a decent conversation with some normal
people.Not some fuckin’ lunatic who wants to change the world and get fuckin’ shot in
the process.
EDDY
No Dilraj(pulls him back to the table).I didn’t mean it like that.
DILRAJ
(Sits down at the table) What did you mean then?
EDDY
I meant like
DILRAJ
Eddy,you’re a mate and I’m telling you as a mate this is well out of your league.Forget
it.Please?
(Their attention is diverted by Dave making a loud slurping noise with his straw)
CUT TO;Interior of church.A priest is shaking hands with one of his congregation.The
person leaves the church and the priest is on his own.He walks towards the altar,kneels
down and prays.His attention is diverted by a noise from the altar.
CUT TO;The large icon of Christ on the cross.Christs’ eyes start to move.
CUT TO;Astonished face of the priest(Father Reynolds)
CUT TO;The icon;one of its hands starts to slowly raise and point towards Father
Reynolds.
CUT TO;Terrified face of Father Reynolds.He collapses on to the floor of the altar.
CUT TO;Leroy listening to music in his bedroom.His mobile rings.
LEROY
Yeah ?
KENTON
Blud its me,Kenton
LEROY
Blud.Waz Gwanin me breder?
KENTON
Serious shit blud
LEROY
Yeah?
KENTON
Trust me.Serious tings
LEROY
What like.Spit it out blud
KENTON
Can’t spit over dem digits blud.Can you link me at Ronnies now?
LEROY
Yeah
KENTON
Gotta tear blud
(Leroy closes his mobile and jumps off the bed.He switches off his quadsound and runs
downstairs.He enters the living room)
LEROY
Ma,gotta go and do some shopping
MAMA S
But we got the shopping child
LEROY
But I fancy some different biscuits and some…some cherry cake.
MAMA S.
Ok.can you get an extra pint of milk?
LEROY
Yeah(Exits the flat.Walks down stairwell,greets his friends who are sat on the stairs)
CUT TO;Ronnies café.The boys are staring at the empty cup of tea and the three
straws.Kenton enters,orders a coffee and sits on a table behind the boys.A couple of
minutes later Leroy enters and sits on Kentons’ table.
LEROY
Blud
KENTON
Manz got bear crack blud.
LEROY
How much blud?
KENTON
Guess blud
LEROY
Whats with this shit blud?
(Dilraj nudges Eddy and signals to him to keep quiet)
KENTON
(Laughs) No I ain’t layin’ that shit on you blud.Guess,go on.
LEROY
One.two..
KENTON
Higher blud
LEROY
Aw shit blud.Yooz getting me all vexed blud
KENTON
Signal de plane and a signal de plane
LEROY
No shit.
KENTON
No shit.Manz from Kingston he’s sortin us out bear deal blud.Half a mill blud
(Dilraj and Eddy look horrified)
CUT TO;May,still in a trance.
MAY;(holding up her hands and looking up)
An angel………………….
CUT TO; The boys walking out of the café and down the street. A man is standing outside
the café smoking a joint .Clouds of smoke waft over the boys.
EDDY
Did you hear that?
DILRAJ
Yeah I heard.
EDDY
Half a million.That’s serious
DILRAJ
Yeah I know,but that’s their business.
EDDY
Yeah but when that stuff gets onto the streets kids will get messed up
(they look at Dave who has stolen the cup from the café,holds it up to his ear as if he is
listening to something.He looks at the cup,flicks it with his finger and puts it back to his
ear)
DILRAJ
As I told you before,there’s nothing you or I can do about it.
EDDY
We could go to the police
DILRAJ
Your’e ‘avin a laugh aren’t you? They’re all on the payroll.
EDDY
Payroll?
DILRAJ
Aw,wake up Eddy
EDDY
We could tell Leroy’s mum
DILRAJ
Eddy! (laughs uncontrollably) tell his mum!
DAVE
Who’s been a naughty boy then?
(They stop to look at Dave.Dave takes the cup from his ear and stares back at them.He
points to the cup as if he’s received a message.)
FADE TO;Exterior street scene.Fruit and vegetable market.
PAN TO; Mama Stevens very carefully examining the fruit.
FRUITSELLER
Handle that any more lady and you’ll get an upright banana …
MAMA STEVENS
How much are t
FRUITSELLER
45p a pound.Want that bunch do ya?
MAMA STEVENS
No, um, have you got any lychees child?
FRUITSELLER
Nah,fresh out of them darlin’
MAMA STEVENS
How much are the grapes?
FRUITSELLER
(rolling his eyes) what singly or in pairs?
MAMA STEVENS
What child? Speak up!
FRUITSELLER
90p a pound
MAMA STEVENS
Break me off a small bunch..
FRUITSELLER
What like that?
MAMA STEVENS
No, careful child, just that,here.. look (Tries to grab the bunch from the seller.He pulls
away)
FRUITSELLER
Careful darlin’ you’ll put these little buggers in fruit trauma
MAMA STEVENS
What are you talking about child?
FRUITSELLER
This be alright?
MAMA STEVENS
Break off a little bit..
FRUITSELLER
Like that?
MAMA STEVENS
Little bit more
FRUITSELLER
(weighs the grapes) that’ll be 40 pence
MAMA STEVENS
Break off a bit more
FRUITSELLER
(breaks off more grapes,talking to himself)…the mouse must be on a diet
MAMA STEVENS
How much is that?
FRUITSELLER
(weighs the grapes) 35 pence
MAMA STEVENS
(takes out a bag of small change and slowly counts out the money) here you are child
CUT TO; Exterior back street scene. The boys are huddled together in a dingey back
alley
DILRAJ
Look it’s no good you can’t do that
EDDY
Why not?
DILRAJ
It won’t work
EDDY
What about an anonymous letter through her door?
DILRAJ
You’re right. That’s it. Got a pen?
CUT TO: Father Reynolds walking up to the icon of Christ with a bunch of flowers. He
carefully places the flowers in a pot in front of the icon. He looks nervously at the face of
Christ whilst arranging the flowers. Upon completion he stands back, kneels and prays.
He crosses himself, gets up and walks away.
CUT TO: the icon. A single knock comes from the icon.
CUT TO: Frozen figure of Father Reynolds. He slowly turns to face the icon. His face is
a mixture of fear, awe and expectation.
FADE TO: Rows of terraced houses.
PAN TO : A small, well kept house. Mama Stevens is approaching the front door. She
fumbles for her keys whilst singing a religious tune. She enters the hallway, bends down
to pick up the mail on the doormat and proceeds to the kitchen.
CUT TO:Exterior street scene. Leroy is lighting up a huge joint. He takes a few tokes and
passes it to Kenton.
LEROY
It’s all gravy blud, it’s all gravy……
KENTON
Dya get me………………………
CUT TO : Interior kitchen of Mama’s house. She is opening her mail whilst still singing
hymns.
MAMA
Bills, bills, the good lord giveth, the good lord taketh away….
CUT TO : Horrified face of Mama Stevens
MAMA
What??? Good Lord!!!! Heavens!! Lord have mercy!!!! (She runs to the hallway and
frantically uses the telephone)
Leroy???? You come back home this instant child!! Do you hear me?? Right now I’m
tellin’ you!!!
CUT TO Exterior street scene. Leroy has just got off the phone from his mother.
LEROY
Gotta tear blud
KENTON
Allow it blud
LEROY
Nah, gotta tear blud, ma old lady sounds bear vexed
KENTON
Ize earin’ dat shit blud
LEROY
Later G
KENTON
Yeah later
PAN TO:Leroy walking briskly through the streets
CUT TO; Father Reynolds praying to the icon of Christ.
CUT TO; Mama Stevens sat in her lounge impatiently waiting for her son. Sound of the
front opening. Leroy gingerly enters the lounge.
LEROY
Wassup….
(pause)
Hey ma wasshappenin’?
MAMA
Gets up out of chair and goes face-to-face with Leroy
I’ll tell you what’s up you criminal!!!
LEROY
What?
MAMA
You destroyer of people’s souls!!!
LEROY
What?
MAMA
You devil’s disciple!!!
LEROY
Ma?
MAMA
You evil evil boy!!! You evil drug dealer!!!!
LEROY
But ma
MAMA
My son a drug dealer!!! Shame on you!!!
PAN FROM; scene of mother and son in a heated exchange with Leroy eventually wilting
under the intense remonstrations of his mother. He hangs his head in shame..
CUT TO; Interior church scene .Sunday.
CAMERA MOVES THROUGH; Rows of the congregation singing.
PAN TO; Mama Stevens singing heartily with a dejected Kenton by her side.
CUT TO; The three boys sitting in the café. Eddy and Dilraj are watching Dave
unsuccessfully trying to scoop out the last remaining bits out of his ice-cream sundae.
Dave’s hands are covered in ice-cream which he now and again licks off, much to the
disgust of his onlookers.
DILRAJ
Do you think it worked then?
EDDY
Well I haven’t seen him for about a week now, or his mate.
DILRAJ
His old dear must have switched.
Dave holds the sundae glass directly over his mouth to collect the drips. A customer
brushes by him which causes Dave to drop the glass. It smashes into tiny pieces on the
floor. Eddy and Dilraj look at eachother with resigned expressions.
CUT TO; Interior of church. Leroy is at the back of the church calling Kenton on his
mobile.
LEROY
I swear down blud. She’s well vexed dya get me?
(pause)
Sceen, sceen. I’ll get that sorted blud. Later.
FADE TO; Exterior of the church, one month later. There is a long queue of people
waiting in the street to get into the church. Outside the door of the church there are TV
reporters and cameramen. Father Reynolds and the archbishop are being jostled by
reporters.
ARCHBISHOP
Gentlemen, please gentlemen. Father Reynolds will answer all your questions please
1ST REPORTER
Where did you see this um vision Father Reynolds?
FATHER REYNOLDS
It was our icon of Christ
ARCHBISHOP
Available on our paying website or you can obtain merchandise from our gift shop
2nd REPORTER
Did you get any messages?
FATHER REYNOLDS
I believe Jesus Christ spoke to me about a great miracle taking place here in our troubled
community
1st REPORTER
What did he say?
ARCHBISHOP (interrupting)
You can hear all of Father Reynold’s revelations on volume one of of new CD, priced
£15.99 available in our gift shop or log on to our mail order site www
2nd REPORTER(interrupting)
What do you think Jesus wants you to do with this message?
FATHER REYNOLDS
Jesus is saying love one another, give each other hope…
CUT TO; interior of church. Leroy is dealing drugs to an eager queue of people who are
filing past him
FATHER REYNOLDS
Put aside your material cravings….
CUT TO; interior of church with Leroy pocketing wads of money from his customers
FATHER REYNOLDS
Look to the Lord…..
CUT TO; one of Leroy’s customers walking away from the queue eagerly unwrapping his
drugs
FATHER REYNOLDS
Seek salvation………..
CUT TO; Exterior of church. The same customer now starts to roll up a joint from the
drugs he has just bought.
ARCHBISHOP
Thank you gentlemen, that will be all. Father Reynolds now has a thanksgiving service to
attend to.
CUT TO; the same customer who has just skinned up a joint from Leroy’s deal. He
stands by the group of reporters smoking it. Clouds of marijuana smoke waft across the
scene. Some of the reporters cough and look around. The others hustle the archbishop
and Father Reynolds who retreat into the church.
FADE TO; Exterior scene. Three months later. A long queue of people are waiting
outside the church. Suddenly a number of police cars and vans draw up. Police run into
the church.
CUT TO; Interior of church. Lerory is stood a few feet away from Father Reynolds who
is giving holy communion. As the queue moves past Leroy he hands out his deals to his
customers. As the police burst into the church Leroy disappears through a curtain and
out of the church. Father Reynolds is apprehended by the police and marched out of
church protesting his innocence. Several parishioners are searched and taken away.
CUT TO ; Interior scene of courtroom. The jury are returning to their seats. Father
Reynolds stands nervously in the dock.
CU
JUDGE
Foreman of the jury, have you reached your verdict?
CU
FOREMAN
We have your honour.
JUDGE
On the charge of intention to supply class “A” drugs how do you find the defendant?
FOREMAN
Guilty
(sound of horror from the court)
CU
JUDGE
Father Reynolds
(judge is stopped by a blinding flash of light. He puts his hands over his eyes and the rest
of the court gasp and cry out in fear)
CUT TO; A magnificent angel standing in the centre of the court. He points to the judge.
ANGEL
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged. Have mercy on the weak. The righteous will never
be moved.
CUT TO; the rest of the court getting on their knees and praying. The angel walks nearer
to the judge.
ANGEL
Well???
JUDGE
You want me to pardon him?
ANGEL
Have you no charity, no mercy? You are a freemason aren’t you?
JUDGE
W. w..well.. I.. um….(bangs gavel on desk) Case dismissed
(loud cheer from court)
CUT TO; Jubilant scenes of parishioners mobbing Father Reynolds
FADE TO; Exterior scene of church. A long queue of people are waiting outside the
church.
CUT TO; Interior scene of church. Father Reynolds is giving holy communion. Leroy is
stood a few feet away from Father Reynolds and hands out his deals to his customers. He
is on his mobile to Kenton.
LEROY
It’s all gravy blud, it’s all gravy….
BLACK.