- Our story begins with the introduction of Michael King who is socially segregated by his estranged flatmate, Clare Kelly. The world of the young professional now intrudes upon the world of the unemployed.
- At the opening of our film there exists two separate worlds in Balham - the world of the young professional and the world of the unemployed - each containing a character upon whom we focus the audiences' interest. Our drama consists in the collision of these two worlds that changes the lives of two people who stand in direct opposition to each other. Both of these worlds rarely come into contact with each other except through the persons of Michael King and Clare Kelly.—Anonymous
- Scene 1 (The Ordinary World)
The opening scene begins by introducing us to our hero, Michael King, as he walks home from work. His ordinary world is that of a young professional who is financially independent and ready to step onto the property ladder. He presents himself as a man with a bounce in his steps, ready to engage with a friend and say, wah gwan, bredren?
Scene 2 (The Special World)
An establishing shot of Clare Kelly sitting by herself on the sofa. She holds the seat of power as the lead-tenant. Michael enters the room, greets her, but only silence comes back at him. This is his first test of character. He asks her how her day was, and she replies with her only line in the film: I got the sack. A close-up shot shows Michael reacting to this. He has had the experience of being sacked from a job, and is a potential mentor who could teach her a few things about rising above unemployment. Instead, he decides to go into the kitchen and make a cup of tea.
Scene 3 (The Inmost Cave)
As Michael makes a cup of tea, Clare tests him for a second time by entering the kitchen, retrieving a packet of crisps from her cupboard and turning off the light, leaving him in darkness. It is a shadow projection of the worst aspects of her behaviour and a statement that a woman can either be a helper or a hindrance in a mans life. If the darkness could talk it would tell some sinister stories. Michael lets it ride for now.
Scene 4 (The Ordeal)
Clare sits on the sofa eating her crisps. She is waiting for Michael to respond to her offence. He joins her on the sofa, and we observe a complete lack of communication between them. Because of his refusal to retaliate, she gets up from the sofa and turns the television off. It is her television after all, so he doesnt think much of it. She takes out the vacuum cleaner from the cupboard and starts hoovering. This is the third test that she subjects him to by attacking his shoes with the suction head. She has gone too far. As she puts the hoover away, Michael pulls himself together and prepares to strike a counterblow. He calls her to attention, stands up to confront her and we look over his shoulder as he delivers his verbal attack by telling her he is moving into his new flat in Balham. A close-up shot of her face shows that she is being toppled from her position of lead-tenant. He walks past her and then looks at her, showing her that he has passed the test of her ordeals and moved up the ladder of souls.
Scene 5 (The Road Back)
Michael exits the room, returning back to his ordinary world with his attitude in tact and the reward of being a property holder. As the door closes we see her standing alone, stuck in the special world. She has made an enemy out of an ally, and now she is presented with the bill. The pain of her experience serves as a fair warning to the audience not to choose the path of being a hindrance to a fellow human being.
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