This is an outline for something that never got made from three years ago when it Lehmans had just gone bust and when Dalston was not as trendy as it is now. It’s schmaltzy but there you go, it’s Christmas. Enjoy!
A story of Londoners bought together by birth, near death and empty buildings. set in a London overrun with empty flats.
Sarah Wiseman works as a supervisor in a small department store in the local mall. She’s in her early thirties, loves her workmates, hates her job. It’s the last day before closing down for good and the shop is a war zone, there’ve been two fights in the aisles and one drunk pissing in the photo booth.
She goes home to find her painter and decorator husband, Dave attempting suicide in the garage. She saves him, she’s not the first aider at work for nothing, he admits they’ve screwed up. They can’t afford the mortgage and the house is being repossessed.
They have done everything right, worked hard, bought a place, put off kids, worked even harder and there’s nothing left.
Sarah takes a bundle of notes from a biscuit tin and walks out. She’s going to Spain.
Gabriel Boateng is in trouble. Gabes’ Pastor father says his son is worthless and wants him out. Gabriel won’t accept a plane ticket for Lagos to live with his aunty and fix up, so Dad tells him to leave. His father hoped he would make a lawyer, instead he’s caught the English disease – his girlfriend is pregnant and they can both go to hell.
Mariah Mason is very pregnant. Her Mum’s got a few mates round and they are drinking Baileys and hooting with laughter. Mariah gets a call. She goes into her room where a holdall is half packed to answer it.
Cas Suleiman is an estate agent in his twenties. On his desk there’s a picture of him in a swim team with medals and a huge family photo, Dad gripping his shoulder a little too tight. Cas sits in a brightly lit office with loads of desks all empty except for the receptionist, Jan. Cas is drumming his fingers on his desk when there’s a call. Of course he can fix a viewing, yes, no time like the present. He smiles at Jan, takes a bundle of keys from his desk and heads out.
Outside a huge warehouse development by the canal, Gabe squeaks to a halt on his bike. The sign reads Perseverance Lock Luxury Apartments for sale or rent. Gabe takes a set of bolt cutters from the back of his trackies and cuts through the chain. He pushes the gates open, ignores CCTV cameras and goes inside.
Melchior King, a fiftysomething rasta, is sweeping out his shop, for the last time. His old mate Robbie, is telling him he shoulda fought eviction longer, harder. Should have barricaded himself inside until the council had to drag him away. Melchior says he’s old and tired, he’s had enough, the campaign and the t shirts didn’t work. The shelves are empty. He picks up a last stick of sugar cane and puts it in the box with the others.
In the Perseverance Lock development Gabe’s found the show flat. He steps onto the balcony and the canal and the city are spread out below, black and sparkling. It’s beautiful. He flicks a switch and the hot tub buzzes into life. He smiles. It’s perfect.
Sarah gets on a bus for Liverpool Street. The bus is full of shoppers. The heavily pregnant girl in the seat next to her winces in pain. It’s Mariah. She smiles at Sarah. Sarah looks away. The girl is young, much too young to have a baby.
Outside Perseverance Lock Cas pulls up. He goes up to the gate and notices it’s cut through. He starts dialling the police, but stops. He phones the office, tells Jan he’s going to check it’s all kosher- or should he say halal – inside, after all he could still make a sale.
He pushes the metal gate open.
Up on the balcony Gabe looks down. He sees the state agent’s car and ducks back in.
Gabe cycles away, over a canal bridge, down a street of shops, they are all shut except for corner super markets. He buys armfuls of food, and newborn nappies and leaves in a hurry.
In the show flat Cas is relieved everything’s fine. Someone’s drawn in the dust on the worktop, G hearts M. He wipes it off. Get’s a call from Jan. The buyers aren’t coming. Cas sits on the edge of the balcony and throws his credit cards over the edge. He’s going to have to admit to his Dad that he’s failed and the business is going under.
Gabe crashes into Melchior packing up his van. The bike is mashed and his shopping goes all over the road. Gabe is hurt and angry, almost hits him. Melchior, talks to him, calms him. Offers him a box of West Indian food and a lift home. Gabe tells him about the baby.
Mariah’s water’s break on the bus. Sarah is disgusted, tells her to call an ambulance, but Mariah says she has to get to Gabe, she can’t get a signal. She’s almost there.
Melchior drops Gabe off at the flat, he finds Cas sitting on the balcony edge. Gabe talks him out of suicide. Cas is bankrupt. Gabe shrugs, he’s got no money at all. They bond over overbearing Dads. Gabe promises he won’t be like that.
Sarah decides to help Mariah get to Perseverance Lock, but by the top floor Mariah is starting her labour. Sarah calls an ambulance as they reach the showflat.
The baby is born in a Jacuzzi overlooking the city, Sarah delivers her just as the paramedics arrive. Cas opens the champagne stashed in the fridge for first time buyers. Melchior comes back with nappies and some babygros.
They call the baby Hope.