Student of the Year
TW: self-harm, violence
INT. - BEDROOM - DAY
An almost emptied bedroom: a bare mattress on a simple wooden frame, a wooden chest of drawers next to it and a mirror on top of it. MILES, 18, tall, scrawny, in a baggy shirt and trousers, is folding clothes into a big suitcase.
SEAN (O.S.)
Miles!
SEAN, 18, in a bright shirt and jeans, appears at his doorway.
SEAN (CONT’D)
You’ve been summoned.
Miles pauses for a moment, then quickly resumes to packing.
SEAN (CONT’D)
Weren’t you done packing? God, the room looks so empty without the posters.
Miles hastily zips up his suitcase and starts checking the empty drawers, one by one.
MILES
Yeah, I know. I am, I’m just checking if I’ve got everything.
SEAN
You seem...excited. I thought you didn’t like your dads.
MILES
I didn’t. But it’s been a while so, you know. You never know. The trophy could change their minds.
SEAN
Ha! Miracles can happen.
Miles gives Sean a sarcastic smile as he finishes looking through the drawers, picks his suitcase up, and begins to leave the room. Sean follows him.
EXT. - BOARDING SCHOOL - DAY
Sean is standing by the doorway of an old building. The sign on top of the doorway reads “NATIONAL MILITARY SCHOOL: CHANAKYA HOUSE”. Miles, suitcase in hand, turns to him.
MILES
It’s so quiet.
SEAN
Yeah, everyone left yesterday.
MILES
Are you going to be okay?
SEAN
I’ll be fine.
MILES
I don’t know how I would have survived this without you.
SEAN
Go, before your taxi leaves without you.
MILES
Taxi?
SEAN
Yeah.
Miles lets out a slight chuckle.
SEAN (CONT’D)
For your sake, don’t get your hopes too high, okay?
MILES
Yeah.
SEAN
When you show them the trophy and they turn into the best parents alive, remember to give me some credit.
MILES
Oh, you’re getting all the credit.
SEAN
As I should! Now go!
MILES
Going! You’ll stay in touch, right? Call me when you get the phone?
SEAN
Yes, yes, I’ll give you all the gossip.
MILES
And hopefully you’ll graduate next year too!
SEAN
Okay, you can fuck off now.
The two shake hands and Miles heads off to a taxi waiting by the gate. Sean stays by the doorway as he sees the taxi leave the premises.
INT. - HOLIDAY HOUSE - DAY
CHARLIE, 50, tall, dressed smartly, opens the door to a big holiday house. He is followed by JOHN, 50, in a business suit, who is holding two small suitcases. He puts them on the floor.
CHARLIE
Oh, this is gorgeous.
The living room is cosy, with a big sofa, TV, rug, and colourful cushions. The glass sliding doors in front of him overlook a swimming pool and a hilly landscape beyond. There is a big open kitchen with a dining area to the right, bedrooms to the left and a set of stairs on the far end of the room.
CHARLIE (CONT’D)
Isn’t it?
John is typing on his phone.
JOHN
(without looking up) Yes, yes...Sorry just finishing up an email.
John looks up.
JOHN (CONT’D)
How many rooms are there?
CHARLIE
This one has four rooms. I thought we could have a-
JOHN
-one for each of us. Great. We’ll take the ones on this floor and the kids can have the ones upstairs. I’ll go put the bags away.
John puts his phone back in his pocket, grabs the suitcases, and leaves before Charlie can say anything. TARA, 24, long hair, in a summer dress with a cardigan over it, enters the house with a backpack.
TARA
This is actually pretty nice. Good choice, dad.
CHARLIE
Thanks, hun.
Tara hears shuffling from the rooms.
TARA
Separate rooms? Here too?
CHARLIE
Look, I didn’t know if-
TARA
-Whatever. I’ll go claim the bigger room before Miles gets here.
She leaves to go upstairs before Charlie can say anything.
TARA (O.S.) (CONT’D)
I’ll be upstairs if you need me!
INT. - DINING AREA - DUSK
Charlie, John, and Tara are sitting around a dining table - John and Tara on one side, Charlie and an empty chair across them. There’s three large pizzas in the centre, and everyone’s having a slice.
The doorbell rings. Tara rushes to get up and answer it.
Moments later, a tired Miles comes into the room. Charlie gets up to hug him, Miles hugs back awkwardly. Miles goes to shake John’s hand, which John reciprocates, seated.
JOHN
Why don’t you go wash up quickly? We ordered pizzas.
MILES
Thanks.
TARA
I took the bigger room upstairs.
MILES
That’s not fair!
JOHN
Tara!
John glares at Tara.
JOHN (CONT’D)
Miles, you can have the bigger room if you want.
TARA
But-
Miles is a little confused by John’s reaction.
MILES
No, no, it’s fine. We’re not kids anymore, it doesn’t really matter. I’ll be back in a minute.
Miles leaves to go upstairs with his suitcase.
CHARLIE
Tara, why did you have to provoke him? He’s just gotten back. He must be tired.
TARA
(looking at her food) I was just trying to act like a normal sister. I haven’t seen him in so long.
JOHN
Don’t be stupid. You need to be careful.
Miles returns to the table and sits next to Charlie. Everyone continues eating. A minute of silence ensues.
JOHN (CONT’D)
How was the journey?
MILES
Uhm - it was okay. Everything was on time.
MILES (CONT’D)
I just wish I knew where I was going though. And it would have been nice to be home first. But this is really nice, thank you.
CHARLIE
That’s good to hear. I told John we can trust the driver to give you your train tickets, didn’t I?
JOHN
You did. So, Miles, do you know what you want to do next?
CHARLIE
John, he’s just gotten here.
JOHN
What? I deserve to know what our son plans to do with his life.
MILES
I’m considering enlisting, but I’m not sure yet. The entrance examinations are in a few months anyway, so I’ve got a little more time to decide.
JOHN
Well, you don’t have a lot of time.
MILES
Yeah, I know.
Miles and Tara share a quick glance.
MILES (CONT’D)
I have so much to tell you guys about college!... But I want to hear about you first. Dad? Still working for Mr Darwesh?
JOHN
Yeah. I got promoted to CFO earlier this year. It’s been busy, but we’re seeing real growth in the company. He treats me well, so I have no complaints. He was kind enough to offer your sister a real job there, but she refused.
Miles waits to see if Tara responds to their dad’s comment. She continues eating.
MILES
(to Charlie) What about you, pa? Still enjoying the university life?
CHARLIE
Well, it’s been-
JOHN
-He got laid off in March.
MILES
Oh. Sorry.
CHARLIE
It’s okay. I teach at the district school now. English and Maths.
MILES
That’s nice!
JOHN
It barely pays anything.
CHARLIE
It pays enough. And the kids are really nice. They’re tough cookies. And they’re very sweet. Last term, they made me a little thank you card on teacher’s day
JOHN
-it’s just heavily underpaid. I don’t understand why you do it. I think it’s stupid to not move on
MILES
-dad, can you please not interrupt
CHARLIE
-Oh it’s okay, I didn’t have more to say anyway
JOHN
-I’m just saying that it feels like I’m the only one thinking about the family
MILES
-I think that’s unfair to pa
JOHN
-Oh, and what about me, huh? What about-
MILES
(raises his voice) What about you?
The room falls silent.
MILES (CONT’D)
(softly) Sorry.
A brief eerie silence follows.
JOHN
Well, your sister is still insistent that she’ll become a big writer.
MILES
I’m glad to hear she’s working on her goals.
CHARLIE
Yeah, she does work
JOHN
-Well, that’s all well and good, but I don’t know if she’s ever written more than a page in her life.
Miles looks at Tara, puzzled by her silence. Charlie stays quiet too. She motions Miles to let it go with a subtle wave of her hand. Miles bangs his fist on the table.
Instinctively, John grabs Tara’s hand. Tara shakes him off and leaves the table to go upstairs.
MILES
Dad, look at me.
John looks at him.
MILES (CONT’D)
What’s going on?
Miles looks at Charlie.
MILES (CONT’D)
Are you scared of me?
Charlie gives Miles a soft smile.
CHARLIE
Why don’t you go for a little walk, love?
MILES
You still don’t trust me? It happened once, two years ago, and it was a mistake. You sent me off without saying goodbye. I didn’t hear from you for two whole years - not even on my birthdays! I wanted to share so much with you. So much. And then you send a taxi to take me from school to the station and another taxi from the station to the middle of nowhere so you meet me here, away from everyone you know, so you’re not embarrassed in front of the neighbours about the son you had to send away because he went insane. I haven’t seen MY bedroom in so long. And who knows, I might not. You could send me back there for all I know.
JOHN
Do you not remember what you did?
MILES
I do! Do you not remember what you did?
JOHN
We made sure you get to live a better life.
MILES
You let me go without even trying.
Miles pushes his plate and gets up to leave the table.
MILES (CONT’D)
I didn’t need discipline! I needed you!
Charlie and John share a concerned glance.
EXT. - HOLIDAY HOUSE - NIGHT
Tara is sitting alone by the pool outside, her legs in the water. Her cardigan is next to her.
She’s softly rubbing an old scar on her left hand and looking out to the picturesque view. City lights float in the distance, so far it seems like a whole other world.
Miles appears from behind her, in a t-shirt and shorts.
MILES
(handing her an apple) I stole one from breakfast today. You didn’t eat a lot at dinner.
Tara rejects the apple and gestures to Miles to sit next to her.
TARA
Don’t have much of an appetite tonight.
Miles sits next to her, taking his shoes off and putting his legs in the water. He takes in the view before him.
MILES
I wonder why.
Tara chuckles.
MILES (CONT’D)
Thanks for all the letters, by the way.
TARA
Oh, so you did get them?
MILES
I read them all the time. I just didn’t respond.
Miles searches Tara’s face for a response.
TARA
(nonchalantly) Oh, okay.
MILES
So, have you been writing anything exciting?
TARA
(chuckles) No, not really.
MILES
I’m sure you are, you’re just hiding it because you think it makes you mysterious and cool.
TARA
Whatever you say.
MILES
Why do you never say anything back?
TARA
I just, don’t feel the need to.
The siblings share a minute of silence. Miles notices Tara’s hand.
MILES
Is that?
TARA
-yeah.
MILES
I didn’t really get to speak to you after it happened, and I was scared-
TARA
-I don’t blame you, Miles.
Miles heaves a sigh of relief.
MILES
I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been in the kitchen, I shouldn’t have been standing next to you, I shouldn’t have gotten so angry, I thought it was my hand, it was all so
TARA
-hey, I said it’s okay.
MILES
Are you scared of me?
Tara puts her hand over his.
TARA
No.
MILES
You know, I used to do it to myself back then. Not with a knife, but...yeah. I’ve gotten over it now anyway. I was a stupid kid then.
TARA
I guessed you did.
MILES
Wait, really? I thought I was pretty good at hiding it. Was proud of it even.
TARA
I’m your sister, Miles. Doesn’t matter anyway. I didn’t say anything then either. I don’t want you to think I’m a doormat. I don’t like keeping quiet. It’s not me.
MILES
Why do you do it then?
TARA
I have a plan. To live a real life. Away from all this. I just want to get through this bit.
MILES
Do you mean, like, leaving?
TARA
Would you come with me if I did?
MILES
I don’t know, Tara. I just got here...And I know they’re difficult, but they’re our dads. And I did make a big mistake. They’re just looking after us.
TARA
I thought you’d say that. It doesn’t matter, it’s all in the far future anyway. You’re stuck with me for now, you little fucker.
MILES
Oh, so you swear now? Didn’t you use to be very strongly anti-swearing?
TARA
(chuckles) Shut up, I swore back then too. You just haven’t been around me enough.
MILES
I can’t believe you swore
TARA
-Calm down
MILES
-No, it’s unbelievable
TARA
-Oh, fuck off!
They both start laughing.
INT. - HOLIDAY HOUSE - NIGHT
Charlie and John are sitting in front of the TV. Charlie glances at their children sitting outside, and looks at John, whose attention is divided between the TV and his phone.
CHARLIE
I feel bad.
JOHN
You can apologise to them in the morning.
CHARLIE
No, about Miles. Do you think we did the right thing?
JOHN
Look, he did something wrong, and it’s our job to ensure he faced the consequences.
CHARLIE
I know, but-
JOHN
-there’s no use thinking about it. Letting it go would have been worse.
CHARLIE
Maybe you’re right.
CHARLIE (CONT’D)
What do you think about him enlisting?
JOHN
I’m not sure... Maybe I could convince Mr David to make him repeat his final year.
JOHN (CONT’D)
There doesn’t seem to be a lot of development.
CHARLIE
Yeah.
Tara and Miles enter through the sliding doors.
CHARLIE (CONT’D)
(to Tara and Miles) Nice view?
MILES
Yeah, really nice.
Tara and Miles sit down on the sofa next to the one John and Charlie are seated on.
TARA
(to Miles) So, Miles, tell us about college.
MILES
Oh, yeah. Oh, I’ve got so many stories - dad and pa, you’ll love this
JOHN
I’m a little tired. I’m going to go to bed.
CHARLIE
(to Miles) Me too hunny, sorry. I promise I’ll listen tomorrow.
(to Tara and Miles) You two behave.
MILES
Are you guys serious?
TARA
Dad. Pa. He just got back today.
JOHN
I’m just tired, okay? Goodnight, everybody.
CHARLIE
Me too, sorry love. Goodnight!
They both leave to go to their bedrooms, switching the TV off and still on their phones.
MILES
(to Tara) Thanks.
TARA
What for? Now tell me about college. I want to hear all the stories.
MILES
So, I won this award...