3 main characters - Mother (Manda?) , Step Father (Michael?) and Son (Simon? (Main Character)).
Simon has inherited a rare form of OCD/Anxiety from his mother allowing his mind to interpret different situations differently from how they are in reality. This disability is central to the plot. The un chronological under of time in the plot fits smoothly and cleverly together in the ultimate scene. The Story starts (In the film) On new years evening, and finishes around Christmas the next year. The subtle use of props here is also extremely important to the structure of the narrative. (For example a letter Simon was supposed to be given was made clear in a shot, but not focused upon, so when viewer re-looks over the film they can see it and think to them selves 'ohhhh cleverrrrrr'). Also note all the speech in "marks" is not spoke aloud, but in his head.
Plot Summary.
New years evening (2013). Simon in nervously in the company of his family and friends as they all count down to 12am to celebrate the start of the new year and a 'fresh start'. Due to the overriding monologue of Simons thought (remember the OCD) an audience are able to observe his constant commentary over the night events. The clock starts to count down from ten to zero with quick flashes to the man on telly who is also counting down (That guy that has that show with live music idk if you guys have ever watched it) ,His father approaches him with an envelope with a red stamp. He stats to panic and become dizzy with heavy breathing. The clock reaches 12am. 'Fresh start' is echoing and fading.
Cuts quickly to black.
Cuts in immediately to next scene.
(February 2012)
The alarm clock is loudly going off, he quickly leaps out of bed to switch it off. "Doctors appointment". "1 hour 3 minutes until the bus, that gives me 2 minutes to brush my teeth 3 minutes to shave my face 13 minutes to shower plus or minus an extra 1 minutes 24 seconds each for shampoo or body wash. 2 minutes to get try 15 minutes for my breakfast 7 minutes to get dressed 4 minutes to pack my bag 1 minute to put my coat on 30 seconds to put my shoes on 20 seconds to tie the laces 15 seconds to say good by to mum 5 seconds to vaguely smile at Simon 30 seconds to say good by to my dog and a solid 5 minutes ti walk to the bus stop giving me 1 minute until the bus arrives. Unless of course the bus is late. Fades out.
(May 2012)
"Tablets. Two four times a day. That's eight tablets. seven days a week is fifty six tablets and all year is 2912 tablets, that's a lot of tablets. Mum says it's okay tho, she used to take them as well. Michael doesn't though. Michael just sits at the table reading his paper that paper probably has any many words as i have tablets. I bet he isn't even reading it, he just doesn't want to talk to me, he just eats his breakfast and goes to work. If that's where he does go, how do i know where he's going? he could be going anywhere. He comes home really late anyway. (shot of him sipping coffee in his car late at night reading other papers.)
(September 2012)
Simon begins to become more and more obsessed with his step father Michael, with lots of views that his step father is a bad person, in sneaks downstairs and observes his step father showing his mother a bunch of papers that are obviously to do with him his Michael sees him looking, throws the papers facing downwards on the table and slams the door in front of simon. (he stops to take the tablets)
(November 2012)
A few other things happen to make simon more sure that his step father is keeping secrets from him. He decides to confront him about it. He walks in on a (saturday?) morning to find him having a huge row with his mother with checks and papers scattered all over the table. Simon stands freakishly still, unsure what to do, his father exits the rooms and drives off.
(December)
This scene takes place on the doctors office, Simon is outside the office whilst his mother and Michael are inside talking to the doctor. He observes them talking and they all turn by turn look at Simon and Smile. "what are they smiling for"... The doctor gives them a sealed envelope with a red stamp. Simon becomes more and more curious and nervous about the letter, thinking it may be some sort of secret that they have all kept from him.
(2013 New-years eve)
Rewinds to the beginning when Michael gave Simon the letter. He freezes and faints. Camera work all the footage filmed all quickly rewinds within 5 seconds and cuts to black.
We here a voice, it's Simons mother's Barbara. She explains how he is wrong. the film flashes back to February, "you were diagnosed on the 23 of February with a rare form of OCD/Anxiety." She explains how in May, at the table was when she broke the news to Michael, devastated, he felt he could speak to you properly, (Different shots used to the ones in Simons opinion of what happened). She explains how him coming home late, was because he was working more hours to pay the fees for Simons treatment. He wasn't having an affair. "In September the papers we were hiding from you were your treatment papers" and how they were discussing weather or not he should have surgery. The argument Simon observed was a row about how little money they had left in the bank, and although the row was correctly interpreted the financial stresses of a standard family show how it is relatively normal. In December The doctor shakes his parents hands as he will have completed his course in the next week, they smile and his for the same reason. She explains, we were saving the letter to give it you tonight, to celebrate your beating of the disease.
The film and unsure if Simon came back to reality.
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