Script

LIFE AS IT IS (PILOT): Day 1 26/1/21

ACT 1

FADE IN.

EXT. WIND IS BLOWING IN THE STREET LOUD THUNDER CAN BE HEARD, NICK AND LEAH ARE STANDING OPPOSITE EACH OTHER. THE THUNDER GETS LOUDER AND NOW THE LIGHTNING HAS STARTED TO STRIKE.

Leah wipes a tear off her face

LEAH

I can’t do this anymore.

NICK

What do you mean?

LEAH

You have hurt me enough.

I don’t think I can handle the pain anymore

NICK

So you are just going to give up?

LEAH

Sorry Nick, it’s not worth it.

Leah turns her back towards Nick and she walks away. Nick doesn’t stop her, he seems sad but he tightens his fists. He turns away and walks away. Heavy rain starts to pour.

INT. 12pm INSIDE NICKS HOUSE

Nick is sitting on the kitchen floor leaning against the cabinets behind him. He picks up a whiskey bottle near him and he gulps down a big sip directly from the bottle. ‘While he drinks’. The doorbell rings but Nick doesn’t get up, there is constant knocking on the door Nick still doesn’t get up. Nick's friend Raj starts shouting.

RAJ [SHOUTING]

Nick, let me in!!

I know you are inside.

Please just let me in, talk

to me and tell me what happened.

Nick yells

NICK

GO AWAY!

He throws the whiskey bottle right in front of him, glass shatters on the floor. Knocking on the door becomes stronger and Raj continues to shout. Soon the knocking reduces and Raj goes away. Nick ends up passing out on the floor.

FADE OUT.

ACT 2

FADE IN:

EXT: A big backyard behind a house

Leah is sitting on a woven chair. There Is a huge crowd In her backyard. Everyone is wearing fancy Indian clothes, her friends and sisters are sitting beside her, music is playing in the background. Leah Is getting mehndi done on her hands. Her friend Mimi joins her.

Leah (looking cheerful)

I can’t believe I am getting married

Mimi ( teasing Leah)

Out of both of us, who knew you would

be the one to get married

Leah

I know right! God I am so nervous!

Mimi

Don’t be! you are marrying a good guy,

Leah

I never believed In love at first sight,

but the second I saw him, I fell hard on

my head, down the rabbit hole.

Mimi (sighs)

Damm! You are lucky!

Leah

Yeah! I really am.

FADE OUT.

ACT 3

FADE IN.

EXT: Shooting range

It’s one year ago. Leah Is nervously looking at Nick, he pulls the rifle up to his shoulder and shoots perfect targets.

Leah

Wow you are good!

Nick (nervously)

Th- thanks, been doing this for a while

Leah

Sorry about dad.

I was not expecting dad to book a shooting range

for our first meeting

Nick (nervous)

I- it’s- it’s okay

I-I - I don’t mind

Leah (looking distracted)

Wanna get something to eat?

Nick

Yea- yeah! I mean whatever

INT: Inside the shooting range club

Leah and Nick are sitting near the window at the club's restaurant.

Leah holding the menu.

Leah

You should try the club sandwich,

It’s quite good

Nick (nervous)

O-oh ok! Done

Leah

You can have something else if you like.

Nick

N-nn- no, i like samwiches

Leah (chuckles)

(V/O)

He is so cute and nervous

(To Nick)

You don’t have to be so nervous.

I am not going to attack you or anything

Nick (smiles, feeling a bit calm)

Th- thanks

Sorry it’s my first time

Leah

Mine too,

I always thought I would never get married, but

Sometimes plans change.

Nick (now feeling calm)

Yeah! They do,

I never thought, I would want to settle down,

but like you said, plans change.

Leah (feeling a bit flustered)

Ummm… So have you been in any

relationships

Nick

Yup a few, you?

Leah

Nope! I was too focused on my work.

Nick

So why did you choose to settle down?

Leah

I couldn’t handle the loneliness `

A waiter approaches Leah and Nick’s table.

Waiter

So, what can I get for you today?

Leah and Nick speak at the same time.

Leah

Club sandwich

Nick

Club sandwich

they both look at each other and smile while blushing.

FADE OUT.

ACT 4

FADE IN.

EXT: Back at the wedding ceremony

Mimi

I can’t believe you felt love at first sight

Leah

He was so cute and nervous

He looked like a lost puppy

I couldn’t help but fall for him

Mimi

You must have had a special relationship

Leah

We did! In the beginning we were very shy,

but the more we hung out,

The more we wanted to be with each other.

He sneakingly created a place in my heart

Mimi

Aww, that’s so cute.

I wish my husband was like that

All he does is watch cricket and fart

INT. At Nick’s House

Nick and Raj are sitting in the living room of his house.

Raj

So are you excited in just few days

you would be married.

Nick

Of course I am.

I get to marry Leah, who by the way

is amazing. And then I get to live

With her and have a life full of adventure

Raj

You must really like her.

Nick

I do, she always manages to make to

me smile. You know the first time I met

her I was such as nervous wreck, I

couldn’t even complete my sentences,

still somehow we were able to make a connection

Raj

I guess you have told her about

your “situation”.

Nick

Don’t worry about that now.

I am getting married. Let’s focus on that.

FADE OUT.

ACT 5

FADE IN.

INT. INSIDE THE MAIN PRAYER ROOM IN A GURDWARA

The Gurudwara is filled with people. Leah and Nick are sitting in between while the preist was reading out a prayer for the couple. When the prayer ends, Both Nick and Leah getup and take 7 rounds around the holy book. The ceremony ends and the guests all go out into the Gurudwara’s lawn for lunch.

EXT. IN THE LAWN OF THE GURDWARA

Lively music is playing in the background, the guests are eating food, Leah and Nick are greeting the people and then they go for some lunch. They sit on a table especially decorated for them.

Leah

Oh, you got something there,

Leah picks up a napkin and wipes a crumb off of Nick's chin.

Nick

Thank you,didn't notice that.

Leah

You’re so cute, when you are oblivious.

Nick

If you think that’s cute then you

should see me during work.

I am constantly unaware and clumsy

Honestly I don’t why I haven’t

been fired yet.

Leah chuckles and Nick chuckles with her

Leah

Nick, aren’t you nervous

Nick

Why would I be nervous?

Leah

I don’t know, it's just…

ummm..How do I say this?

Umm…. aren’t you worried

that you will have spent the

rest of life with me.

You will have to give up

your “bachelor’s paradise” for me.

Nick

No, I am not worried. I wanna

be with you. That's why I

am marrying you.

Leah

So you’d never leave me

Nick

Nope, never!

Leah

What if, I am in one of my weird “moods”

Nick

I fell in love with you including

your “moods”

Nick gently strokes Leah’s cheek. They lean in and kiss.

Nick's friend Raj walks over to Leah and Nicks table with drinks in his hand. He hands the drinks to Leah and Nick

Raj

So how’s the happy couple doing?

Nick

We're doing well.

Raj

Are you guys excited for your

honeymoon.

Nick

Yup

Leah interrupts Nick and Raj

Leah

Sorry, I haven’t had the pleasure to

meet you

Nick introduces Raj

Nick

Oh! Sorry Leah, this is Raj

He’s my childhood best friend.

We grew up together.

Leah shakes Raj’s hand

Leah

Nice to meet you

Raj

Nice to meet you too.

By the way, you look really beautiful.

No wonder Nick has been hiding you

from us.

Leah Laugh

Leah

Ha

Thank you.

Nick teases Raj

Nick (teasingly)

Relax buddy! She’s my wife.

Raj (jokingly)

Don’t worry about it, I have my eyes on

the bridesmaids

Raj winks

Leah(teasingly)

Well, you lost your chance there.

Most of them are already married.

Raj

Welp. I guess I will keep

my eyes on the groomsmen then

Raj, Leah and Nick start laughing.

Raj

Anyway! Can I steal your husband for a while.

Leah

Yeah sure! Go ahead.

Nick gets up and presses Leah shoulder

Nick

Don’t worry I will be back soon.

Leah smiles back at Nick reassuringly

Raj and Nick walk away from the table and then move near a corner away from the crowd.

Nick

What's wrong?

Raj

I didn’t want to disturb you but,

we have a problem.

Nick (serious)

I told you I don’t want to discuss work

right now!

Raj

I’m sorry but it’s an emergency

Nick (slightly agitated)

Can you just relax? Dude its

my wedding, I don’t want to

discuss this right now.

Raj

But… but..

Nick starts to walk away before Raj can finish.

Nick

not another word Raj! Just chill

relax enjoy my wedding, have a

cool drink and contact me after the

honeymoon.

Raj

Nick!

Nick walks away ignoring Raj. He walks back to his table. He sits next to Leah.

Leah (concerned)

Is everything okay?

Nick

Yeah don’t worry about it.

Leah

Uhh.. ok

Nick

Hey, they are serving delicious kulfis

You wanna get some.

Leah

sure let’s go

Nick and Leah get up from their tables and they walk over the sweet vendors.

FADE OUT.

ACT 6

FADE IN.

INT. 9:00 am. NICK AND LEAH’S APARTMENT

Nick wakes up on the floor. He sees the glass shattered on the floor. He gets up and starts to stumble across the kitchen. He scans around his room looking lost.

Nick (yells)

LEAH!

LEAH!

WHERE ARE YOU!

A sudden realisation comes across Nick's face, Tears start to drip down his face. He dashes over the landline and starts calling Leah’s number.

Landline

The number you are dialling is

switched off.

Nick dials the number again

Landline

The number you are dialling is

switched off.

Nick dials the number again

Landline

The number you are dialling is

switched off.

Nick (crying)

No no no, please please

please. Leah please pick up.

Nick dials the number again

Landline

The number you are dialling is

switched off.

Nick gets frustrated

Nick (crying)

Leah, what have I done!

Please come back!

Few minutes pass by, Nick is lying on the sofa next to the landline with his face buried in his hands. After some time the landline rings and he immediately picks it up.

Nick

Hello, LEAH LEAH!

IS THAT YOU!

Raj

Sorry, Nick it's me Raj

Is everything ok?

I came over yesterday to check

up on you but…

Nick

I’m sorry Raj. I just lost control

I don’t know what to do. I messed up

Raj

Relax! Nick, I am sure Leah

is fine. Just give her some

time and space.

Nick

I’m promised her, I would never

let her go. I am a monster

I hurt her.

Raj

I think you need to calm down, and

then just talk to her.

Nick

BUT I LET HER GO!

Nick starts sobbing on the phone uncontrollably. The landline falls on the ground and Nick sinks in deeper into the sofa. Leah’s voice keeps playing in his head. He can hear her laughter, her fussiness, her sadness and the last thing he hears are her final words.

LEAH (V/O)

Sorry Nick, it’s not worth it.

FADE OUT.