DEPARTURES

by Meg Hellyer

Short Film
Email: [email protected]

Two men who have not seen each other in twenty years run into each other at a train station. The audience is left to wonder what came between the two all those years ago.

1. EXT. TRAIN PLATFORM. TWILIGHT

It’s peak hour travel in the city- a hustle and bustle at the platform, as commuters in a flurry to and fro with heavy footsteps.

A single overhead lamp post shines down on a lone bench amid the chaos. Sitting on this bench as he waits for his train is GARETH, a middle-aged business man in a suit. He is a regular commuter, and looks comfortable, one leg crossed over the other as he leisurely reads the day’s newspaper.

V/O
The next train to depart from Platform 2 will be the 6:23 Alamein, stopping all stations via the City Loop.

We see a second man, ROB, stride past carrying a briefcase. He slows when he sees Gareth at the bench- vaguely recognising him. He approaches hesitantly, as he is unsure that this IS indeed the person he thinks it is.

ROB
(uncertainly)
It’s… Gareth, isn’t it?

At the mention of his name, Gareth looks up and about, then at Rob. When he fails to recognise him, he is confused that this apparent stranger knows his name.

GARETH
Yes, but…

Relieved, Rob approaches the bench, grinning, and shakes Gareth’s hand. By this Gareth is a little startled, still unsure as to who this is. He continues to study Rob’s face closely, searching for anything that may trigger a name.

ROB
I almost didn’t recognise you; how’ve you been?

GARETH
(apologetic)
Uhh… yeah… look, I don’t mean to be rude but, do we know each other?

ROB
Eh fair enough, it has been a while. Alright, RMIT student newspaper 20 years ago, one too many all-nighters, and…

GARETH
(twigging, then folding away his newspaper)
And a lot of caffeine… God Rob, has it really been 20 years?

ROB
(chuckles)
Believe it or not mate. But yeah, that is a long time to have not seen my ugly mug, isn’t it?

Gareth laughs and shakes his head.

GARETH
You don’t usually catch this train.

ROB
Oh nah, nah- not this one. Mine’s the other platform. I’m the other side of town.

Rob settles his briefcase down by the bench as he sits down to Gareth’s left.

ROB (CONT’D)
Saw you over here and decided I’d come say hello. It’s been ages, mate.

Gareth sighs.

GARETH
It has. So what are you doing nowadays?

ROB
Reporter actually- for the morning Post.

GARETH
(looking ahead)
So you made it.

ROB
Took a long time, not to mention a lot of coffee rounds and butt-kissing. But yeah, I suppose I did. Got offered the cadetship, and I guess you could say the rest is well, history.

GARETH
Still writing the Sport section then?

ROB
Business section, actually.

He points at Gareth’s paper- a copy of the evening Post.

ROB (CONT’D)
Used to have a column in the evening edition- you may have seen one of my articles?

GARETH
Must’ve missed them.

There is a pause in the conversation as Gareth takes up reading the paper again. Rob is a little uneasy at this feigned disinterest.

ROB
So c’mon, what about you? Still in the media?

GARETH
I’m in I.T now.

ROB
Aw yeah. Doing what?

GARETH
You know, bit of this, bit of that.

ROB
So do you have far to travel?

GARETH
Oh, about a half hour to the station. Not far.

ROB
It’s a long day by the end of it, isn’t it?

GARETH
Definitely.

ROB
And what about you and Kirsten, you two still together?

GARETH
Yeah. Been married 8 years.
(chuckles)
She’s still giving me hell. Our youngest’s just started school.

ROB
That’s great, that is.
(pause)
Yeah, Cathy and I didn’t fare as well; went our separate ways 2 years last August. Irreconcilable differences, all that jazz.

Gareth turns to look at Rob sympathetically.

GARETH
That’s a shame, I’m sorry to hear it.

ROB
(sighs)
Well, me too mate, she got the car.
(chuckles)
And the plasma! Nah, I mean, we really tried to make it work you know, but something had to give. In the end it just wasn’t working, what with me working late writing my articles, and her hours at the office. Barely saw anything of each other.

GARETH
What is it they say- ‘success can’t grant you happiness’?

ROB
Not sure that’s it but, something like that.

GARETH
So you have your own place now, or something?

ROB
Yeah, bought a flat. Least I don’t have anyone whining on at me to mow the lawn on weekends, you know. No-one to force me off my butt when I’m watching the game. It’s good, like that. Bit lonely, but can’t complain.

There is another pause in the conversation as Rob drifts into thought, mulling over his situation with Cathy, as Gareth glances at his watch to check the time- the train is due any moment.

ROB
Should catch up for a drink some time you know. Old time’s sake. My shout of course.

GARETH
(absent-mindedly)
Hmm… that could be good.

A rumble in the distance, growing louder, alerts the two to the fact the train is approaching the station. The pair stand, Rob picking up his briefcase.

ROB
It’s been good to see you, you know.

GARETH
(nodding)
Likewise mate. Anyway-

The pair shake hands.

GARETH (CONT’D)
See you round.

He begins to cross to the right to hop onto the train, Rob still standing a little hesitantly behind him on the platform as the train pulls into the station.

ROB
Gareth?

Gareth stops, and turns slightly to face Rob.

ROB
(fidgety)
I wanted to say- the thing with that scoop, I know I should’ve asked you first, it was always you who’d wanted the cadetship in the first place. So what I’m trying to say is mate, is that I’m-

GARETH
Don’t worry ‘bout it. That was then. Doesn’t matter now anyway.

Rob stares at him, a little amazed at being let off so easily.

ROB
Right.

Gareth nods, and steps onto the train. Rob raises his hand to wave, then continues off to the right, to the platform behind. He turns, his back to the audience as the screen fades to black, then credits.


END

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