1

The Come Back

INT. IN A CAR – MORNING

It’s a bright sunny morning and immediately JAMIE is

introduced, sat in the car while being driven. He is solemn
and vacant almost as if he is daydreaming.

There is someone talking to him but it is hard to make out

what is being said as the talking is muffled, still JAMIE
shows no signs of comprehending what is being said to him.
This whole segment should last around seven seconds.

INT. IN A CHANGING ROOM – MORNING

JAMIE is now sat in a changing room with no transition from

the car scene. The camera is low down and looking up at JAMIE
so you can see he is wearing a football kit.

Again, JAMIE is looking vacant and he is not talking to anyone

which is a big contrast of what is happening in background
where all his teammates are laughing and talking.

Someone comes up to JAMIE and ruffles his hair.

Muffled still, the coach gathers the team together and starts
going over team tactics but it is still hard to make out as
Jamie still is not paying attention to his surroundings and we
are JAMIES’ shoes.

EXT. IN A FIELD – MORNING

The whole team is walking towards the camera and before they
hit the camera, they start to walk off to the side apart from
one which turns out to be JAMIE. He stays centralised in frame
and he is looking to wear his team walked off too and he takes
a deep breath and walks off frame too. As he walks off, the
actors name will follow him. The name stays on screen while
the background is off the changing rooms behind.

A ball rolls onto screen from an aerial shot from the centre
of the football pitch and a foot stops it, as the ball is
rolling ‘The Come Back’ follows it. A whistle blows which
merges into the sound of an alarm clock going off.

Throughout the whole of these first few shots, there is a

theme tune playing somewhat softly in the background, quiet
enough so you can still hear the background chatter in all the
opening credit shots.
 2

INT. IN A BEDROOM – MORNING

Slowly the scenes fades in as if someone is waking up. MUM

bursts in the room and abruptly opens the curtains and JAMIE
groans.

MUM
(Stressed out)
Jamie! You need to wake up!

MUM walks out of JAMIE’S room. Again, JAMIE, groans and turns
over, pulling his duvet over him. MUM shouts from outside his
room.

MUM
(Stern)
Seriously Jamie, you can’t be late. It’s your first
game back for months.

EXT. AT THE FOOTBALL PITCH – MORNING

A quick flash of white signals the end of the flashback and

JAMIE is back on the football pitch. He is standing on the
side line watching the game, every now and then doing some
stretches.

A MAN comes and stands next to him and they watch the game
together for a short while before the MAN starts talking to
JAMIE.

COACH
(Encouraging but somewhat patronising)
Are you ready to go on, Jamie? Remember if you’re
not feeling up to it, that’s okay, call for me and
I’ll sub you off.

JAMIE nods his head agreement and looks down away from his
COACH as he is visibly irritated by his COACH talking down to
him.

JAMIE whips his head up as he hears the whistle blow and a

load of shouting from supporters on the side line.

The COACH walks to the side of the frame, throwing his hands
in air and yells.

COACH
(irritated)
Ref! That’s a pen surely!
 3

COACH walks back to JAMIE.

COACH
(Excited)
Right Jamie, get ready, you’re on. Our top goal
scorer, it’s an easy point to us.

COACH lightly pushes JAMIE onto the pitch and all his
teammates and supporters on the side lines are all shouting to
JAMIE being very supportive of their team’s top goal scorer.

As he is walking towards the penalty spot, it is clear he is

feeling nervous and is out of his comfort zone. He is now
walking in slow mo while flashbacks are playing in his head.

MEMORY FLASH
JAMIE’S coach saying ‘our top goal scorer’.

MEMORY FLASH
JAMIE in the game he got injured in and the bad tackle which
led to him being injured.

MEMORY FLASH
JAMIE trying walk with his crutches.

MEMORY FLASH
JAMIE’S teammate ruffling his hair in the changing room.

JAMIE is now at the penalty spot and he starts to take his run
up still in slow mo. JAMIE’S BEST FRIEND, also the captain of
the team runs up to him.

ISAAC
(Encouraging)
Try your best mate, it’s your first game back so
don’t be too hard on yourself.

He takes the shot and he misses.

He drops into a squat and puts his head in his hands. He gets
up and walks off the pitch again in slow mo.

His teammates all run up to him and tell him that it is okay
but the talking is muffled again.

ISAAC
Jamie. Don’t beat yourself up, no one here blames
you, okay?

The scene fades to black and the whistle blows to signal the
end of the game.
 4

INT. IN A BEDROOM – AFTERNOON

JAMIE is lying in bed with his curtains closed and is on his

phone when the door to his bedroom opens slowly and someone
knocks. JAMIE looks up.

MUM
I’ve made you some lunch, Jamie. How are you
feeling?

MUM places the food on JAMIE’S bed.

JAMIE
(Mumbling)
Mmhm I’m fine. Thanks for the food Mum.

MUM
Jamie it was your first game back. You were bound
not to be your best. You’ve just finished your
months of physio. All you need to do now is re-build
your confidence and train as much as you can.

JAMIE
It’s useless Mum, like you said I’ve had months out
everyone else will be way ahead of me by now so
what’s the point in trying anymore?

MUM
Jamie, please, you had one bad game, that doesn’t
mean every game will be bad. You’re telling me
you’re going to give up the dream you’ve had for
years because of one game that didn’t go your way.

JAMIE
I mean, I might as well now. I just lost my whole
team the opportunity of being promoted.

MUM starts to get fed up by JAMIE’S attitude.

MUM
I can see there’s no point in talking to you when
you’re like this, just know Jamie, I’m always proud
of you no matter what.

JAMIE just mumbles neither in agreement or disagreement and

turns over, going back on his phone while MUM walks out of his
room.

JAMIE ends up turning his phone off and going to sleep.

The scene fades to black as JAMIE is drifting off.

 5

INT. IN SCHOOL – MORNING

It’s the next morning and JAMIE sits down in his seat and
starts to take out his pencil case and book when someone comes
up to him and JAMIE looks up and gives an annoyed look.

DEAN
(Scoffing)
Hi Jamie, I heard you missed a pen at the weekend?
And they call you top goal scorer? That’s
embarrassing who misses a pen?

JAMIE
(Annoyed)
Shut up, Dean. You know I’ve been out for months.

DEAN
(Holding back a laugh)
Yeah but if it was me, I’d never show my face on a
football pitch again.

Soft laughs can be heard in the background.

ISAAC enters the room and sees DEAN interrogating JAMIE so he

quickly walks over.

ISAAC
You alright Dean? Not being an insecure bully, I
hope?

ISAAC puts his arms around DEAN being overly friendly towards
him.

DEAN
Me? A bully? Never!

ISAAC
Go away Dean, you’re boring.

At this DEAN leaves JAMIE alone as ISAAC is liked by everyone

and DEAN knows his place when it comes to ISAAC.

ISAAC and JAMIE turn their backs towards DEAN.

JAMIE mumbles to ISAAC.

JAMIE
Thanks, but I really don’t need you sticking up for
me, I can handle myself.

ISAAC
 6

Oh, I know but I’ll jump at any opportunity to

embarrass Dean.

JAMIE
(Grinning)
Oh, I know that as well.

INT. AT HOME – LATE AFTERNOON

JAMIE walks in through the front door and finds his MUM sat in
the living room. JAMIE joins her.

MUM
How was school Jamie?

JAMIE
Yeah was alright. Dean was being annoying again but
nothing I’m not used too.

MUM
This boy has been on your case for a while now. Do
you need me to email school about him?

JAMIE
Absolutely not.

MUM
Okay, okay just a suggestion that’s all.

MUM hesitates.
MUM
Oh! By the way Jamie, I found some exciting news… in
a few games time, apparently there will be a scout
coming to watch your teams’ game!

JAMIE feels a glimpse of hope and excited but that quickly

dies out as he remembers his last game.

JAMIE
Oh… well… I’m sure the other boys are excited by
that.

MUM
Are you not excited?

JAMIE
(Scoffing)
Mum. Be serious. I don’t have even the slimmest of
chance considering what happened last weekend.

MUM
 7

Now, Jamie you be serious. How many times do I have

to tell you? One bad game does not define your
future.

JAMIE allows himself to feel a little hopeful.

JAMIE
Mmmh maybe…

INT. IN JAMIE’S BEDROOM – EVENING

JAMIE is on the phone with ISAAC.

JAMIE
Did you hear??? There’s going to be a scout at one
of our games sometime in the next few weeks.

ISAAC
No way! Jamie this is your chance!

JAMIE
Eh, I don’t know I think I’m past my prime now

JAMIE says in a half jokey voice.

ISAAC
Shut up, no you are not. You know what? As my duty
as captain I’m going to come up with a training plan
for you and every day after school, we train at the
park.

JAMIE
Everyday? That’s a bit excessive don’t you think?

ISAAC
Not if you want to become pro…

JAMIE
I guess you’re right.

This is the first time since the weekend JAMIE has allowed
himself to feel hopeful about his future of becoming a
professional footballer.

Again, the scene fades to black.

EXT. OUTSIDE SCHOOL GATES – AFTERNOON

JAMIE is walking out of the school gates as the school day is

over when ISAAC comes running up to him and grabs his
shoulders.
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ISAAC
Hope you haven’t forgotten about our deal?

JAMIE
Of course not.

ISAAC and JAMIE walk together towards the park to start

training.

EXT. THE LOCAL PARK – LATE AFTERNOON – MONTAGE

--ISAAC sets down cones in the park

--JAMIE starts to train every day in different light and

conditions

--ISAAC shouts instructions at JAMIE

--ISAAC gets excited when JAMIE achieves a difficult skill

--JAMIE gradually gets better and better and happier and

happier

--They practice taking penalty shots with ISAAC being in goal

Throughout this montage, there is no audio just music playing.

At the end of the montage, the music dies out and JAMIE and
ISAAC fist bump each other and laugh and start to walk home
together.