‘Bucket’ Screenplay

By Thomas Caterer
This film is available to watch at the Yanagi Studios YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQoNe4Caf12D62lP_s0gww

EXT. NARROW STREET – NIGHT – HEAVY RAIN

A WOMAN (mid-twenties), is wearing a smart suit, red overcoat and red heels, she pushes a pram up the street, approaching a house.

CUT TO:

INT. ALEX’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM

Alex (early 20s) is eating a children’s brand of cereal in his dressing gown and slippers. On the table in front of him is a bottle of cheap whiskey, and baccy, rizlas, filters. He is watching Adventure Time on TV. There is a loud knocking at the door. Alex pauses, looks in the direction of the door, annoyed. There comes another knock, more rapid than before. Alex reluctantly rises and stubs his toe against the table. He shouts out and then angrily stomps across the room to the front door.

INT. ALEX’S HOUSE – HALLWAY

Alex approaches the front door.

EXT. ALEX’S HOUSE

Woman stands, tapping her foot impatiently.

INT. ALEX’S HOUSE – HALLWAY

ALEX
Yes?

EXT. ALEX’S HOUSE

Woman sighs, pulls an envelope out of her handbag and pushes it towards Alex, who accepts it.

INT. ALEX’S HOUSE – HALLWAY

ALEX
What’s this?

Alex glances down at the envelope and pulls a letter out.

INSERT – A letter which describes Alex’s successful application to adopt a child.
BACK TO SCENE

INT. ALEX’S HOUSE – HALLWAY

ALEX
Jeez, I think you got the wrong geezer here, missus. I ain’t exactly father material.

EXT. ALEX’S HOUSE

Silence. Woman pushes the pram forward though the doorway.

INT. ALEX’S HOUSE – HALLWAY

Alex looks shocked.

EXT. ALEX’S HOUSE

WOMAN (sternly, blank-faced) I think you’ll find we don’t make mistakes Mr. Murphy.
(emotionless) I’m sure you’ll make a wonderful father. Woman walks out and closes the front door behind her.

INT. ALEX’S HOUSE – HALLWAY

Alex turns back to the pram, pulls it inside and then pulls back a blanket which reveals a BUCKET with a neutral face drawn on it. Alex then runs back to the door, carrying Bucket with him, carelessly bashing it against walls as he runs.

EXT. ALEX’S HOUSE

Alex scans outside unable to find the Woman.

2.

ALEX
Hey! Come back you fucker! Why have you given me a bucket? Is this some sorta sick joke? What are you tryna pull?

Alex pauses confusedly, placing Bucket above his head to shelter himself from the rain. He appears glum and dismayed.

FADE TO BLACK.

The sound of rain falling continues for a few moments before, fading out. Fade in, the wailing cries of a baby.

CUT TO:

INT. ALEX’S BEDROOM – NIGHT

Alex’s eyes open wide suddenly as the baby’s wailing turns into a scream. He sits bolt upright. He looks dazed and confused. He puts his hands to his head in dismay, brushes sleep from his eyes and gets up. Alex rises, turns on his light, laboriously dresses himself in a dressing down and slippers and then staggers downstairs.

INT. ALEX’S LIVING ROOM

Alex approaches the abandoned pram. He pulls the blanket off and inspects the pram. Bucket has a crying face with tear drops.

ALEX
(raises voice)
What the Hell is this?

The screams grow louder.

ALEX
(CONT’D)
Ah just shut up

Alex considers for a moment and then runs into the kitchen, opens the fridge and pulls out a pint of milk. He opens it and rushes back to the Bucket. He pushes the milk to the Bucket.

ALEX
(CONT’D)
Hungry?

3.
The screams grow louder and shriller once more. More tear drops appear. Alex considers again and then returns the milk to the fridge. He returns to the Bucket, picks it up and checks underneath. He then runs upstairs. Bucket continues to cry out. Alex returns downstairs with a teddy bear, he places it in the pram with the Bucket. The screams again intensify and more tear drops appear. Alex angrily throws the bear out in impatience. Alex paces the room and then returns to the pram and begins to sing a lullaby. As he sings, the screams quieten down and the Bucket’s crying face is replaced with a smiley face. Alex smiles back.

FADE TO:

MONTAGE – CHEERFUL MUSIC PLAYS THROUGHOUT.

EXT. PARK POND

Alex is sat with Bucket on a bench. The sun rises. Alex tears of pieces of bread to feed the ducks.

INT. SUPERMARKET

Alex is smiling to himself whilst he puts various baby-care items into his trolley. Bucket is sat in the child’s seat.

EXT. PARK SWINGS

Alex pushes Bucket in a child’s swing.

EXT. PARK POND

Alex and Bucket are sat on the same bench as before. Alex feeds ice cream to Bucket. The sun sets.

4.

INT. ALEX’S HOUSE – LOUNGE

Alex has his arms around Bucket and is reading it a children’s story. Bucket has a sleepy face with Z’s trailing off.

END OF MONTAGE

INT. ALEX’S HOUSE – LOUNGE

Alex and LIAM are sat in the lounge.

ALEX
You know I thought it was really too soon for me to be a Dad but I feel like I’ve matured a lot and I’m really enjoying it

LIAM
Yeah man, you’ve adopted a great Bucket and you know everyone feels scared at first but I always knew you would be a great father. Have you decided on a name?

ALEX
No, you can’t sex a Bucket till its at least a year old, so I won’t till then. Right now I’m just happy being a father.

LIAM
You know, Alex, Bucket doesn’t look its usual cheerful self.

Bucket has a sad face drawn on it. Dramatic, discordant music plays.

FADE TO:

EXT. HOSPITAL – GREY DREARY DAY

INT. HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM
Alex waits anxiously for news of Bucket, pacing up and down the room. NURSE enters the room.

5.

NURSE
Your Bucket has a fever I’m afraid, it’ll have to be kept in for a while, for observation and rest.
ALEX
God, please don’t tell me its anything serious!
NURSE
Calm down sir! We’re professionals here and we’ll doing all we can.
ALEX
Well maybe that’s not enough, this is my child’s life we’re talking about here!
NURSE
It could be worse sir… just be grateful it isn’t you.

Nurse turns and leaves the room. Alex tuts and looks disgusted.

EXT. ALEX’S HOUSE

INT. ALEX’S HOUSE – LOUNGE

Alex is waiting nervously, and is then startled by a loud knock at the door. Alex opens the door.

INT/EXT. ALEX’s FRONT DOOR

A pair of hands push the pram into the house. Alex smiles, relieved and takes the pram inside.

INT. ALEX’S HOUSE – HALLWAY

Alex pulls back the blanket and his smile turns to a frown. Bucket still has its original unhappy face but with another smiley face drawn over it in red.

MONTAGE – DISCORDANT, DARK MUSIC PLAYS THROUGHOUT.

6.

EXT. PARK POND

Alex is sat with the Bucket on a bench. The sun rises. Alex despondently chucks pieces of bread at the ducks.

INT. SUPERMARKET

Alex, appears sunken and beat, he joylessly gathers random items into his trolley. Bucket is sat in the child’s seat.

EXT. PARK SWINGS

Alex pushes Bucket in a child’s swing, using one hand and looking away into the distance, tears forming in his eyes.

EXT. PARK POND

Alex and Bucket are sat on the same bench as before. Alex despondently feeds himself ice cream after attempting to offer it to Bucket. The sun sets.

INT. ALEX’S HOUSE

Alex has his arms around Bucket and is reading it a children’s story. Music stops.

BUCKET
(strained, hoarse)
Kill me

END OF MONTAGE

INT. ALEX’S HOUSE

Alex looks at Bucket, tears welling in his eyes, he lowers his head.

ALEX
(whispers)
Okay…

EXT. PARK POND

Alex approaches the pond with the pram. He takes Bucket out of the pram and carries it over to the pond.

7.

Alex holds Bucket with a hand on each side and lowers it into the water. Alex’s expression is intense and sorrowful. Alex drowns Bucket, he then lifts Bucket up and there is no longer a face at all.

FADE TO BLACK