UNCONSCIOUS

[dcde-unconscious]

01 MAY 2020

INT. RESIDENTIAL MAILROOM - DAY

Margot opens her mailbox to find it empty. She opens the package box to find it filled with welcome chocolates for the other apartments. She picks each one up to read the name and unit number. She gathers a few onto her arm to distribute them into their respective mailboxes but then notices that the mailbox slots are not wide enough to receive the enormous blocks of chocolate. She also notices that the first chocolate on her arm has melted.

END

[dcde-unconscious]

01 SEPTEMBER 2019

INT. BEDROOM - DAY

Alice is getting dressed for brunch when she notices something aqua and silver coloured near the bedside table. She picks it up. It is part of a condom wrapper. She runs her index finger along its internal fold. She raises it to her face and smells it.

Heath enters the room, buttoning a shirt on.

ALICE

Heath, have you ever cheated on me?

HEATH

No, I haven’t.

ALICE

Tell me the truth. Have you?

HEATH

No, Alice, I swear I haven’t.

ALICE

What’s this then?

Alice shows Heath the piece of condom wrapper.

HEATH

What is it?

ALICE

It’s a condom wrapper.

END

[dcde-unconscious]

06 APRIL 2017

EXT. UNIVERSITY GROUNDS - DAY MARGOT, ANDREA and ELOUISE are walking across a well manicured lawn. They turn the corner of a sandstone building and pass several bronze statues. Margot walks towards a building opposite.

INT. FEMALE RESTROOM - DAY MARGOT is washing her hands at a white and square basin. She reaches her right hand forward for the soap dispenser and gives it two quick pumps. As she rubs her hands together, the red-pink soap catches onto the cuff of her white dress shirt. Margot puts the end of her sleeve under the running water and rubs at the soap. It stains her shirt in a warm pink colour. She rubs again vigorously and at length, and rinses her sleeve. The stain comes out. 

END

[dcde-unconscious]

21 MARCH 2017

INT. OFFICE - DAY MARGOT quickly stands from her desk and swings her black tote bag over her shoulder. She takes a quick look down at her wristwatch as she walks towards the exit to go to barre class. She notices in her periphery that HUGO has stood up. Hugo is wearing a loose t-shirt and shorts. Hugo picks up a blue rolled up yoga mat and heads towards the exit also.

END

[dcde-unconscious]

20 MARCH 2017

INT. HOME - DAY MARGOT is sitting at a dinner table with a blue and white ceramic cup in between her hands. KATHY is boiling the kettle to make some tea. The front door OPENS and CLOSES. ANGIE appears. She has grown.

ANGIE (in Vietnamese)

Hello, Grandmother. How are you?

(in English to Margot)

Hello, Aunty. How are you? It is nice to see you here.

Angie walks over to Kathy and gives her a big hug. She then turns around to take a seat at the dinner table and starts to cry. 

END

[dcde-unconscious]

19 MARCH 2017

INT. TIMBER HALL - DAY MARGOT is standing amongst a crowd of young and elderly people learning how to perform synchronised kite flying. A VOICE through a loudspeaker announces something. Everyone assembles into neat rows with a yoga mat in front of them.

Everyone lies down on their backs and takes their feet up to the ceiling, whilst flying their kite. Margot finds the pose very easy but struggles to instruct her kite to keep in time with the others.

END

[dcde-unconscious]

16 MARCH 2017

INT. HOUSE - NIGHT MARGOT, ROSA, PABLO, and HECTOR and his friends are sitting around a living room. POP MUSIC is playing softly. Margot stands and walks into the kitchen. She starts to unpack the dishwasher. Margot notices TYRON watching her. She pretends not to notice. She returns to the living room when a RADIOHEAD comes on. It is a slow track. Suddenly, a microphone appears and Margot starts to sing along to the song.

The music changes to a THAI song.

HECTOR

Wendy! You or one of your friends have to sing this one!

No one steps forward to the microphone. They all watch the Thai words appear on the TV screen.

The music changes to GEORGE MICHAEL, sang in SPANISH.

Pablo stands to take the microphone.

END

[dcde-unconscious]

15 MARCH 2017

EXT. RACE TRACK - DAY MARGOT is standing with a few of her friends at the finish line of a red running track. They are laughing about something when ERNEST appears. He is panting  little.

MARGOT (to Ernest)

What’s going on over there? Are they done with the races? 

ERNEST

They’re almost done with the 800 metres. 

MARGOT

Oh, are they up to that already? Have you done it? 

Ernest laughs.

ERNEST

I just raced. 

The sound of RUNNING FEET gets closer. Ernest’s competitors run past the finish line.

END

[dcde-unconscious]

08 MARCH 2017

EXT. OCEAN - DAY MARGOT is snorkelling in the ocean. A swarm of stingrays suddenly appear underneath her. Margot quickly surfaces. She hears animated shouting before she can open her eyes to see. The voices call out to be careful and come out of the water.

Margot opens her eyes. Her fellow snorkellers are climbing onto a rocky reef to find refuge from the stingrays. The stingrays sweep across the edges of the rocky reef. Their tails flick from side to side before they return into the water. 

Margot climbs to the highest point of the rocky reef. The crashing waves still wash over where she stands. She takes a seat on a black milk crate and feels tremendous stinging pains on her calves and thighs. She looks around her and sees small black tails emerging from the milk crate, flicking around madly. 

MARGOT (shouts)

Watch out! There are stingrays inside the milk crates!

Margot carefully treads across to another section of the rocky reef. A large stingray sweeps past her. It flaps across the reef, reaching for her feet before turning back into the water. 

Margot takes a seat at the next milk crate she sees. It appears to be empty. She lifts up one knee to take a look at the sole of her foot. It is bleeding. The rocky reef has cut up her raw and salted skin. Margot feels a jolt of pain on her calf. She yells out to an UNKNOWN MAN.

MARGOT

This is all your fault. Please quickly give me a towel so I can cover the create at least and sit.

The Unknown Man throws Margot a towel. Margot covers the milk crate and sits back down. Suddenly, she feels several more stings on her legs. She turns and sees tiny black tails, curling past the towel, whipping wildly towards her. 

END

[dcde-unconscious]

07 MARCH 2017

INT. YOGA STUDIO - NIGHT MARGOT and ANDREA take their places at their yoga mats. 

MARGOT

Thanks for coming, Andrea. I really hope you like it.

ANDREA

That’s okay. It’s always good to try something a bit different.

Andrea pulls her hair to tighten her pony tail. 

END

[dcde-unconscious]

06 MARCH 2017

EXT. PUBLIC FORECOURT - DAY MARGOT is laughing very loudly. She is playing a simulated fighter game, wth goggles over her eyes. A crowd of people are watching her and other plays move around. Margot starts to press her buttons rapidly to hold her opponent down and punch them repeatedly. Another virtual opponent approaches her wth a rubber black rope. 

PLAYER 1 

Watch out. They are 290 metres away. 

MARGOT

Oh no! I don’t think I can go 290 metres further. You will have to take them. 

Margot pulls her goggles and earphones off.

MARGOT (to SPECTATOR)

Would you like a turn?

Margot starts to laugh.

MARGOT (to SPECTATOR)

It’s really fun. 

The Spectator laughs, and the crowd laughs and applaudes as we change players. 

END

[dcde-unconscious]

05 MARCH 2017

EXT. STREET - DAY MARGOT is texting ERNEST. The message reads: “HOW WAS WORK?”. Ernest’s reply reads: “GOOD. I JUST FINISHED A MEETING WITH DAD THAT WENT WELL. HAVE A GOOD TIME AT YOUR FIRST NON-REAL JOB IN A WHILE.” 

(NEXT DAY)

EXT. GALLERY - DAY Margot and Ernest enter through glass sliding doors. Margot takes Ernest’s hand. He doesn’t react. She then reaches her other hand over to hold onto his arm. Ernest moves away slightly and Margot immediately releases her hold. Ernest continues walking as Margot slows to a stop. She doesn’t know whether his reaction was with purpose.

END

[dcde-unconscious]

04 MARCH 2017

INT. OFFICE MARGOT is working at her desk when ALEC KNOCKS onto her table. 

ALEC

Margot, could you please take our new student ANDREA to site and teach her how to measure up?

Alec signals to the new employee with a nod of his head. Margot turns around and looks. Andrea has blonde hair pulled back tightly into a pony tail. BRUCE and MARTIN are helping her model a timber extruded or swept form roof. 

END

[dcde-unconscious]

03 MARCH 2017

EXT. MOTEL - NIGHT MARGOT and KENNETH pull their car into a motel. As soon as they get out of the car, they run to each other and embrace. They kiss each other deeply. 

Margot looks away and notices a man watching them. She pulls Kenneth further under the visual protection of the car park roof and continues to kiss him. 

They check-in at the concierge and head to their room.

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT Margot and Kenneth quickly undress and slide under the white sheets of their bed. They look at one another silently. Kenneth takes Margot’s hand. He inhales deeply. 

KENNETH

There's a type of immunity that men obtain from women through loving them. And I want to thank you for giving me that. 

END

[dcde-unconscious]

02 MARCH 2017

INT. OFFICE - NIGHT MARGOT and her colleagues are working late. It is well past midnight. LAYLA starts to shut down her computer.

LAYLA (to Margot)

Well, I’m off now. 

MARGOT (to Layla)

It’s been a great learning opportunity having been seated next to you, Layla. You’re an amazing role model and I wish you the very best in whatever it is that you choose to do after this. 

LAYLA

Thank you, Margot. You have your whole career ahead of you and I know you’ll do really well. You have the drive and thinking to excel in this profession. 

They smile at one another.

LAYLA

Oh, there was actually something I wanted to show you. It’s a project I did with Noll and Shayne.

Layla pulls out an A3 plan drawing.

LAYLA

Here is a double story void near the front entry windows with greenery on the glazing side, which we termed the green and gold triangle. It will be a good reference for your future project.

MARGOT

Thank you, Layla. 

Layla and Margot stand from their seats and walk down the marmoleum. The office lights suddenly dim. KYLE appears with a cake illuminated with candles. Their colleagues gather around and sing Happy Birthday to Layla. During the singing, some of the candles blow out and Kyle relights them. Layla blows out all but one, pauses, and then blows the final candle out. 

Everyone cheers and applauds. Layla makes a thank you speech. VIOLA appears behind the crowd, having come back to work to see Layla off. HUGO steps forward and makes an announcement. 

HUGO 

I just wanted to say that you all don't have to stay back for the celebrations. I can honestly say that I've been feeling the hardship and it has affected my mood so don't feel obligated to join us. 

A lot of champagne is poured and drank. 

(later)

Everyone starts to exit for another party elsewhere. As Margot gathers her belongings, she can’t believe that a full year has passed, and realises that she never got to have Friday lunch with ALEC. 

END

[dcde-unconscious]

01 MARCH 2017

EXT. GANGWAY - DAY MARGOT, ED and KENJI are approaching Kenji’s parents’ boat. They squeeze through the glass balustrade. 

MARGOT

Thank you so much for this opportunity, Ken. 

KENJI

It’s nothing. It’s all good. 

(later)

INT. OFFICE - DAY Margot, Ed and Kenji walk through their office and remove their safety jackets and boots. MEL is sipping a cup of tea and approaches them.

MEL

So, how was it?

MARGOT

So good.

ED

The water was perfect. Couldn’t ask for a better day.

Mel smiles and sips her tea. 

MEL

If you take away the fear then you've got no worries.

END

[dcde-unconscious]

28 FEBRUARY 2017

INT. CAKE SHOP - DAY MARGOT, DIANA, and LILY are looking at cakes inside a glass cabinet.

DIANA

What looks good, Margot?

MARGOT

Well, if it was for Ernest, I would buy the coffee cake with the little bear on it because that’s what I used to call him. 

DIANA

Aw. Okay, well I like the cheesecake.

(to the SHOPKEEPER)

Could we please get the coffee cake with the bear and the cheesecake?

LILY

Is there not the two slices for $16.90 today?

SHOPKEEPER

No. It’s the wrong day for that. 

The Shop Keeper slides the cakes into a brown paper bag.

EXT. PLAYGROUND - DAY Margot, Diana, and Lily are sitting inside a timber and painted steel alcove. They each take a forkful of the cakes. The coffee cake is terrible. It tastes really fatty, flat and old. The cheesecake has the same flavour. As Margot chews on the biscuit base, the crumbs start to swell and expand in her mouth like dough.

MARGOT

Is it just me or is this biscuit base getting thicker as you chew?

LILY

It’s getting thicker.

They spit the cake out.

MARGOT

I feel terrible. Let’s go back. 

INT. CAKE SHOP - DAY 

Margot walks up to the counter. The Shop Keeper is suddenly TAMMY from high school.

MARGOT (to Tammy)

These are the worse cakes ever.

Tammy is stunned. 

MARGOT

They’re not worth paying for.

Tammy starts to cry. She wipes her eyes and inhales deeply.

TAMMY

Well, if you don’t like them then there’s nothing I can do I suppose.

Margot turns her back on Tammy.

DIANA (to Margot)

That was really mean, Margot. 

MARGOT

It’s not mean when they taste like that.

LILY

I think that was pretty mean too, Margot.

Margot takes a seat outside. After a moment, she stands.

MARGOT

You’re both right. I didn’t mean to say those things. 

Margot walks into the shop and approaches Tammy who is still silently crying.  

MARGOT

I'm sorry, Tammy. It's not like you made the cakes yourself. You just work here.

(pause)

Let us pay extra for the cakes, okay?

Tammy lets out a little cry, and then nervously giggles. Margot gives her some money.

MARGOT

Come on. Are you done? Take your lunch break with us?

EXT. PLAYGROUND - DAY The four girls return to the playground. Their plate of cake is gone. A COUPLE is sitting in its place.

DIANA (to the Couple)

Have you seen a plate of cake? 

GUY

Yeah, it’s just down here.

The plate of cake is hidden behind a timber sleeper. The four girls all take a forkful of the cake and smile at one another.

END