#foreignbodies

[georgedawnay]

#foreignbodies #19x24 #contemporaryart #women #fracturedreality #onpaper #worlwide #sodomino

[polaxred]

Foreign Bodies - Rain

Autumn 1890.

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EXT. DISPENSARY - FRONT DOOR - DAY

Thomas steps out. Elin stands beside the door, smoking. The rain is beginning to pick up. He lingers on the porch.

ELIN: The rain isn't going to stop.

He looks at her.

THOMAS: How do you know?

ELIN: Everyone's already taking shelter.

THOMAS: You have a keen eye.

ELIN: Do you think I have a future in the police force?

THOMAS: I'll recommend your application, Miss Hale.

ELIN: You're very kind, Sergeant.

THOMAS: At your service.

He turns up the collar of his coat. He touches the brim of his hat and steps out into the rain.

[polaxred]

Foreign Bodies - Sir Emmett

Summer 1890.

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INT. THOMAS' HOUSE - KITCHEN - EVENING

Mrs Doyle finishes tidying up the kitchen. Thomas enters, coming from Rosie's room.

MRS DOYLE: She'd almost given up waiting for you.

THOMAS: So had I.

He sits at the table. A toy cat lies crooked in front of him.

THOMAS: I haven't seen this one in a long time.

MRS DOYLE: Sir Emmett.

THOMAS: Sir Emmett.

He looks at it.

THOMAS: I can't even remember why she named him that.

A pause.

MRS DOYLE: Time passes.

A pause.

MRS DOYLE: Before long, she'll be a young woman.

A long pause.

THOMAS: I don't know if I'm ready.

MRS DOYLE: You're as ready as anyone can be.

THOMAS: Oh, now you want to talk?

A pause.

MRS DOYLE: Rosie will soon have questions you won't be able to answer.

He sighs.

THOMAS: You'll be here.

MRS DOYLE: Would you come to me to talk about a boy who'd caught your eye?

He laughs softly.

THOMAS: No.

She smiles.

MRS DOYLE: Of course not.

She looks at him.

MRS DOYLE: Think about it.

A pause.

MRS DOYLE: Good night, Mr Rowe.

She takes a few steps.

THOMAS: Mrs Doyle?

She stops.

THOMAS: I thought I could be enough for her.

She turns to face him.

MRS DOYLE: I think you ought to do a few things for yourself.

He lowers his eyes and smiles to himself.

THOMAS: Sleep well, Mrs Doyle.

She leaves.

[polaxred]

Foreign Bodies - Elsewhere

Autumn 1890.

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INT. DISPENSARY - HALLWAY - DAY

Thomas is sitting on a bench. Elin walks by him. She seems tired.

ELIN: Sergeant Rowe.

THOMAS: Miss Hale.

A beat.

THOMAS: I'm waiting for Mr Ashworth.

He gestures to the empty space beside him. She looks around her and sits. They stay silent for a moment.

THOMAS: They cut down the old elm in front of St Mary's.

ELIN: I saw. The church looks smaller now.

A pause.

THOMAS: Why did you come to work here?

She doesn’t answer.

THOMAS: Henry would have you at St Bart’s. Why not go?

She looks at her hands.

ELIN: I'm freer here.

A pause.

ELIN: If you had the choice, where would you rather be?

THOMAS: Somewhere else.

She laughs softly. He thinks.

THOMAS: In my garden.

A pause.

THOMAS: It's gone to seed.

ELIN: What did you grow?

THOMAS: Mostly flowers. Roses.

ELIN: Roses?

He smiles to himself.

THOMAS: My wife liked them.

A pause.

ELIN: I used to have a small garden.

He looks at her.

THOMAS: No roses?

ELIN: No. Herbs.

THOMAS: Of course.

ELIN: Of course.

A pause.

THOMAS: My daughter always insists I tend to it.

A pause.

ELIN: You should listen to her.

A pause.

THOMAS: And you? Where would you rather be?

ELIN: By the sea.

THOMAS: Yes. There too.

ELIN: I like it when the water is cold. The air smells different.

THOMAS: Isn't the sea always cold?

She laughs.

ELIN: Not in Constantinople.

THOMAS: Constantinople?

ELIN: I lived there once.

A pause.

THOMAS: What was it like?

ELIN: Noisy.

He chuckles.

ELIN: There was a brightness to it.

A beat.

ELIN: It seemed to come from the walls. The ground. The water.

ASHWORTH: Sergeant Rowe?

Ashworth appears in the doorway.

THOMAS: (To Elin) Thank you.

He gets to his feet and follows Ashworth out.

[polaxred]

Foreign Bodies - Offcut #1

INT. LODGING HOUSE - RENTED BEDROOM - NIGHT

Elin inspects the sheets. Thomas watches her.

ELIN: The room will do.

They look at each other.

THOMAS: I've never come into a place like this without two or three of my men.

Elin smiles.

ELIN: I've never come into a place like this with a man. Much less two or three.

Thomas smiles back.

[polaxred]

Foreign Bodies - Snow

Christmas Day, 1890.

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EXT. HENRY BENNET’S HOUSE - BACKYARD - LATE AFTERNOON 

Thomas walks around the side of the house.

At the far end of the yard, Elin lies in the snow. Thomas stops, simply looking at her for a moment as flakes settle on her coat and hair.

He walks over.

THOMAS: It looks comfortable.

ELIN: The snow is perfect.

He lies down beside her.

THOMAS: It’s been years since I’ve done this.

ELIN: I’ve always liked it.

They watch the snow fall in the fading daylight.

THOMAS: It makes you feel… grounded.

A beat.

THOMAS: And not.

A silence.

THOMAS: I brought biscuits. Would you like one?

He offers her a small stack of biscuits wrapped in a cloth napkin. She takes one. 

ELIN: Were you planning to eat all of those yourself? 

THOMAS: They’re very, very good.

She takes a bite.

ELIN: I must admit, you’re right.

THOMAS: Eleanor’s biscuits have become a Christmas tradition.

They eat their biscuits. They each take a second one.

ELIN: No wonder Bennett never shared the parcels she sent him.

He chuckles.

THOMAS: I tried your ladoos.

ELIN: Did you enjoy them?

THOMAS: Very much. The children were making short work of them.

ELIN: I’m glad.

She smiles.

ELIN: Then there’ll be more biscuits for us.

They lie side by side in silence, as the snow settles on them.

ELIN: Can you still see me?

He turns his head. She is nearly covered in snow. 

THOMAS: Barely.

She sits up.

THOMAS: You look like a snowman.

She shakes the snow from her skirts.

ELIN: Close your eyes. The snowman has some dignity left.

THOMAS: Wait.

Thomas struggles to his feet and offers her a hand. 

ELIN: Thank you.

He pulls her up. She rises awkwardly, tangled in her heavy skirts.

They brush the snow from their clothes. Thomas reaches behind her, brushing the flakes from her back and the train of her dress.