The Neverending Night

The Neverending Night

Written by

Alexandre Serre

1. EXT. MUDY STREET - NIGHT

On moonlit night, a man on a horse appears threw thew the darkness. He heads to a dark house. The raindrops formed mud on the path.

Only the rider's lantern lights up the front of this house. The rider stops in front and stays still in front of it.

After a few seconds, a light comes on in a window on the second floor. The window opens.

HENRI EVANS

Who's making noise at this time of night ?

We can only the silhouette of the stranger talking. He's pointing a riffle at the rider.

WILLIAM

Just calm down sir. I'm not here to rob you or anything. I'm just looking for someone.

HENRI EVANS

Rise your hands, right above your head.

The rider raises his hands.

HENRI EVANS

That's right, keep them like that. Right above your head.

WILLIAM

Am I in the village of Retford Park sir ?

HENRI EVANS

It depends.

WILLIAM

On what sir ?

HENRI EVANS

Who is this ?

WILLIAM

My name's William.

HENRI EVANS

And what are you doing here William ?

WILLIAM

It depends.

HENRI EVANS

Oh yes ?

WILLIAM

Yes sir. I just told my name, your turn now. I like putting name on heads. Who am I talking to ?

HENRI EVANS

I'm Henri, the mayor of this village. Now answer my question. What are you doing here by this time ?

WILLIAM

You're the mayor of this town sir ?

HENRI EVANN

I've just told you.

WILLIAM

Are we talking about the same town sir ? Are you the mayor of Retford Park, Henry Evans ?

HENRI EVANS

Yes I am.

William gets off his horse.

WILLIAM

I'm William Wilson sir. Big downpour, isn't it ?

HENRI EVANS

What you want ?

WILLIAM

For the moment, I just want to continue this discussion inside, out of the rain.

HENRI EVANS

We can't trust anyone these days. How can I ?

WILLIAM

I'm completly agree with you, I myself have difficulty trusting others.

HENRI EVANS

How could I trust you William ?

WILLIAM

I've got in my pocket a paper that prove that I'm only here for the good of your little town. If you're really the mayor of course.

HENRI EVANS

Of course I'm the mayor of this town. Why would I lie about that ?

WILLIAM

Well. Like you said, we cannot trust anyone these days.

HENRI EVANS

Show me that paper, so that I can trust you once and for all.

WILLIAM

Well, I'd hate for this downpour to destroy the only proof you have that you can trust me. That's why I'm asking you to continue our little discussion inside.

HENRI EVANS

Alright, alright. What I'm about to do may be a mistake but I wan't to trust you. Just for this time.

WILLIAM

I'm happy to hear that sir, You can be sure you won't regret it.

HENRI EVANS

I hope so. Stay there, I'll comme down and open the door.

After a few seconds, the front door opens and an old man gets out from it, riffle in his hands. William walks to that man.

WILLIAM

Mister Evans I presume ?

HENRI EVANS

Show me your paper first. Then I'll say who I am.

WILLIAM

Oh yeah of course.

William gets out a little paper of his jacket and gives it to Henri. Henri starts to read it. After a few seconds Henri looks back at William.

HENRI EVANS

So you're a doctor ?

WILLIAM

Yes sir.

HENRI EVANS

And doctor Taylor sent you here ?

WILLIAM

No sir. You've must have misread the paper. It says that doctor Roberts sent me, not doctor Taylor.

HENRI EVANS

Good, good. Well I can trust you now. Come in, you can't stay out in the rain like this forever.

WILLIAM

Thank you sir.

William and Henri enters the house.

2. INT. HENRI'S HOUSE - NIGHT

William is now in the house. He's sitting at a table with Henri. A large beer mug is place in front of him.

WILLIAM

I've got to tell you sir-

HENRI EVANS

-Call me Henry, will you ?

WILLIAM

Henri. Okay. I got to tell you Henri, you're hard to find.

HENRI EVANS

You were looking for me ?

WILLIAM

Yeah I was. I travelled 100 km through the Manchester countryside, I thought I was lost and would die of hunger or thirst, unless a bear found me first.

HENRI EVANS

But you find me.

WILLIAM

Yes I did but I admit it, you were hard to find.

HENRI EVANS

So what's your exact purpose in this town ?

WILLIAM

Like you already know, I was sent here by doctor Roberts, my department manager.

HENRI EVANS

But what are you looking for here William ?

WILLIAM

Well, Henri. I prove you that I wasn't a bad guy, that you could trust me. Now it's your turn. Prove me that your really the mayor of this town. And if you really are, I got something to show you.

HENRI EVANS

I still don't know if you're a bad guy or not. You could just wait the perfect moment to jump on me and cut my throat. Like I said we cannot trust anyone these days, and you won't be the first person I've trusted.

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