1

FAULT

EXT: A LANE IN THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE: 2016: AFTERNOON

It is early spring, cold but with clear skies. Strips of grass
verge and hedgerow run alongside a country lane. Its
scattered with potholes and runs down from a ridge of hills
towards an area of farmland. A dead pheasant is crushed into
the road, except a few tail feathers which flap with the wind.
A cyclist pedals gently over the crest of the hill. This is
HATTIE FINCH, 17, she cycles an expensive road bike and wears
cycling gear, including clip in shoes, fingerless gloves and a
cycling club jersey. She also wears a bulky rucksack which
looks out of place with the other specialist kit. She
accelerates on the decent, holding the lower part of her
dropdown handlebars. She takes the racing line in the empty
lane, sometimes swerving onto the wrong side of the road. At
the bottom she breaks and turns her bike around to climb back
up the hill again. The climb is difficult and she stands on
her pedals powering her way back up. She stops at the top of
the climb. She clicks through the display on the cycling
computer on her bike, and then looks at her watch. Again she
descends the hill.
INT: ELIZABETHS CAR: CONT.
ELIZABETH WORDSWORTH, 40, drives down a country road. She
wears a red blouse, a pencil skirt and kitten heels. Her hair
looks neat and her makeup carefully done. Her phone rings,
clipped in a holder to her dashboard, and she taps the screen
to answer. She wears a Bluetooth earpiece.
ELIZABETH
Hello? Shit Dylan, this is my
personal phone.
(Pause)
Because I didnt want to be
reached!
(Pause)
I dont care! Im taking time off
and Im picking up my daughter
from school.
(Pause)
No, this has nothing to do with
the Daily Mail, weve had shit
like that before.

2
EXT: THE COUNTRY LANE: CONT.
Elizabeth, in her large white Land Rover, speeds round a
corner and breaks suddenly behind Hattie. Hattie glances over
her shoulder and cycle closer to the middle of the road.
INT: ELIZABETHS CAR: CONT.
ELIZABETH
I really, really cannot talk to
you about this right now. I have
been under a lot of stress
recently and so now I am taking
some time to recuperate. Okay?
Elizabeth taps her fingers against the wheel as she speaks and
then presses a quick beep of the horn.
EXT: THE COUNTRY LANE: CONT.
Hattie looks over her shoulder again as Elizabeth moves to
overtake.
HATTIE
Hey hey hey!
Hattie waves her right hand out, gesturing for the car to back
off and Elizabeth pulls in. They turn a bend in the road.
Elizabeth beeps again, holding the horn for much longer this
time.
HATTIE (CONT.)
Sorry for not having a death wish.
INT: ELIZABETHS CAR: CONT.
Elizabeth leans with her forearm against the window trying to
see round another approaching bend in the road.
ELIZABETH
I want to spend some time being
a mother for a change.
EXT: THE COUNTRY LANE: CONT.
Hattie glances over her shoulder again.

3
HATTIE
Do you mind not driving up between
my arse cheeks?
With her hand behind her head, Hattie puts up her middle
finger.
INT: ELIZABETHs CAR: CONT.
ELIZABETH
That bloody bike!
(Pause)
No Im not listening, because Ive
made up my mind.
The road has flattened out and is straight leading up to a
sharp right hand bend. Elizabeth pulls out to overtake but
Hattie has already accelerated up on the straight, almost in
the middle of the road.
ELIZABETH (CONT.)
You know what the last couple of
weeks have been like for me!
Overtaking anyway, Elizabeth speeds past her as they reach the
turn.
ELIZABETH (CONT.)
I have worked my arse off for this
fucking company, and all I get is
bloody bad press!
EXT: THE COUNTRY LANE: CONT.
HATTIE
(Shouting)
The hell you doing!
It happens very quickly; they slow round the corner and the
Land Rover is almost past Hattie. Elizabeth pulls the car in
but hits a deep pothole and swerves left, forcing Hattie to
veer also. The bikes front wheel hits another pothole,
jerking the handlebars to the right and the bike lurches to a
stop.
HATTIE (CONT.)
Fuck!

4
Not having time to unclip her feet, she falls with one hand
out stretched. Her upper body hits the verge but her legs and
bike hit the road.
INT: ELIZABETHs CAR: CONT.
Elizabeth looks in her rearview mirror and breaks.
ELIZABETH
Oh for fuck sake! This is the last
thing I need right now. Dylan, I
have to go.
She hangs up the phone, throws off her seatbelt and gets out
the car, slamming the door with excessive force behind her.
EXT: THE COUNTRY LANE: CONT.
Hattie lays still looking at the bike on top of her, she has
deep scrapes all up her left leg, as well as oil from her
chain. The front wheel has buckled slightly but she hasnt
noticed. She sits up, her left foot still clipped in.
HATTIE
(Out of breath)
Youre a crazy woman. You trying
to kill me?
ELIZABETH
Are you trying to get yourself
killed?
HATTIE
You seem to be trying to do it for
me!
ELIZABETH
You could have cause a serious
accident.
HATTIE
Oh, I suppose its all my bloody
fault?
Hattie takes her helmet off. Elizabeth is now close enough to
see her and realise that shes a young girl. Elizabeth stops
half a meter away and runs a hand through her hair.

5
ELIZABETH
Well, youre okay, so
HATTIE
Okay? Oh my God you almost killed
me. I cant believe you just did
that.
ELIZABETH
You were cycling very
irresponsibly, do your parentsHATTIE
Me? Me irresponsible?
Hattie tugs her arms out of her rucksack straps and the bag
rolls into the road. Elizabeth folds her arms.
HATTIE (CONT.)
You hit me with your fucking car.
ELIZABETH
Well, sorry. But youre fine.
Elizabeth looks back towards her car then at her watch. Hattie
examines her helmet and her hands shake a little. Her
breathing is still quick. She tries to detach her shoe from
her bike by tugging it, but just manages to rattle the pedals
and chain. As she is doing this Elizabeth tucks her hair
behind her ears then suddenly turns and walks back towards her
car.
HATTIE
Dont you fucking dare leave! I
have to, like, take your details.
I can report you for dangerous
driving.
Elizabeth stops and looks at her. Hattie pulls her foot out of
the cycling shoe and stands up. Her breathing has slowed but
she is still a little shaky.
ELIZABETH
Thats ludicrous.
A beat.
ELIZABETH (CONT.)
As I said, sorry. But I dont have
time for this.

HATTIE
Well shit, you should have thought
of that before you almost killed
me!
Elizabeth walks over to her, Hattie picks up her bike and sees
the buckled wheel.
ELIZABETH
ListenHATTIE
(Interrupting)
Look what you did. Im going to be
late for work. Fuck.
(Pause)
Fuck!
ELIZABETH
I am going to be late to pick up
my daughter. Thank you for this
unpleasant chat but I hope you
have learntHATTIE
(Interrupting)
You have to give me a lift.
ELIZABETH
Excuse me?
HATTIE
I cant be late. You have to take
me to work, you dont understand.
Ill never get there on time and I
really cant be late.
ELIZABETH
You can borrow my phone.
HATTIE
No, No, I have to be there. You
dont understand, even if I ring I
still wont get there. Put my bike
in your boot. You have to give me
a lift. Drop me in Hobton, its
not far. Im going to be late.
A beat.

7
ELIZABETH
I cant.
HATTIE
What am I going to do? Im going
to be so late and I just got hit
by a car. What do I do?
Hattie ducks her chin to hide the tears gathering in the
corners of her eyes and blinks a few times. She thumbs the
tire of the buckled wheel and then looks up at Elizabeth, who
crosses her arms.
ELIZABETH
I am collecting my daughter from
Hobton.
HATTIE
Well then you can take me there,
cant you?
Elizabeth looks back at her car, then at Hattie and nods.
Hattie wipes her eyes on her cycling gloves, then pushes her
bike towards the car. She has one shoe on and the other, still
clipped into the pedal, drags along the floor.
HATTIE
I would say thanks but its common
curtesy after you, like, almost
killed me.
Elizabeth walks briskly ahead and opens the car door. Hattie
opens the Land Rovers boot and starts to lift the bicycle
into the car.
ELIZABETH
Wait, wait!
Elizabeth rushes round to the boot.
ELIZABETH (CONT.)
Do not get dirt in this car.
Hattie continues to maneuver the bike, ignoring her. It being
light and Hattie being used to a smaller boot, she gets the
bike in easily, while Elizabeth hovers near. Elizabeth shuts
the boot.

8
INT: ELIZABETHS CAR: FIVE MINUTES LATER
Elizabeth drives in silence. Hattie stares out her window,
also not speaking, her rucksack is on the floor between her
knees. Elizabeth glances across at her, looks back to the
road, and then looks over again. She looks like shes about to
speak, but they turn a bend and encounter a line of traffic
behind a tractor pulling a combine harvester.
ELIZABETH
Perfect.
HATTIE
(Under her breath)
Wouldve got stuck here anyway.
Elizabeth looks across at her again then back at the road.
They are moving incredibly slowly and Elizabeth starts tapping
the wheel. Her phone rings but she doesnt pick it up. Hattie
peers at the display but turns away when Elizabeth looks at
it.
HATTIE (CONT.)
Thats annoying.
Elizabeth hangs up the call, then leans against her window,
trying to look down the line of traffic. Hattie turns the
radio on.
ELIZABETH
Dont.
HATTIE
(Sarcastic)
Sorry.
Elizabeth turns it off. They are silent. Hattie opens and then
closes the glove compartment. Elizabeth looks at her then
reaches across, opens the glove compartment and retrieves a
packet of wet wipes. She holds them out for Hattie, who stares
at them.
HATTIE (CONT.)
What?
ELIZABETH
The oil. On your leg. Do not get
any on my seat.

9
Hattie takes the wet wipes. A car behind Elizabeth beeps, as
she hasnt moved when handing over the wet wipes, and she
drives forward again. Hattie halfheartedly rubs at the oil on
her leg then inhales sharply as she touches the graze.
ELIZABETH (CONT.)
You should clean it.
HATTIE
It really stings.
She inspects the scrape.
HATTIE (CONT.)
Like, theres a lot of grit in
there. Its actually quite
painful. Anyway, you hit me,
remember? So what if I get your
car a little dirty?
ELIZABETH
Excuse me?
HATTIE
Well you did.
ELIZABETH
I didnt. You were cycling right
in the middle of the road.
HATTIE
Yeah, you did!
Elizabeth runs a hand through her hair.
ELIZABETH
I cannot believe thatHATTIE
(Interrupting)
That you couldve killed me?
ELIZABETH
No I couldnt.
Hattie stuffs the dirty wet wipe and the packet back in the
glove compartment and slams it shut.
HATTIE
What? Youre fuck-off-big 4x4
wouldnt have squashed me like a bug?

10
ELIZABETH
That is not what I said.
HATTIE
Yeah. It was.
ELIZABETH
Listen young ladyHATTIE
(Interrupting)
Oh God, even my mum doesnt say
that when shes mad, and shes got
a whole dictionary of disappointed
phrases.
ELIZABETH
Your mother should teach you to
control your temper.
HATTIE
My mum has a worse temper than me.
Hattie looks out the window and scowls. Elizabeth bites her
lip and stares straight ahead at the traffic. A moment passes.
ELIZABETH
This is a nice area.
HATTIE
When there arent any fucking
cars.
They are silent. Hattie continues to stare out the window,
ignoring Elizabeth who is tapping the steering wheel again.
ELIZABETH
It was supposed to rain today.
HATTIE
Id still cycle if it rained.
A beat.
HATTIE (CONT.)
I cycle faster than this.
The traffic has now stopped completely as the tractor reverses
into a farm on a narrow road. Elizabeth leans back in her seat
and puts a hand to her forehead. Hattie exhales.

11
ELIZABETH
For Gods sake!
HATTIE
Its not the farmers fault youre
in a hurry.
As Elizabeth speaks she looks at the roof of the car with her
hand still clasped to her face. Hattie looks down at her
ripped cycling glove and picks at the loose threads.
Elizabeths phone vibrates loudly a few times.
ELIZABETH
Shes six. My daughter. Im just
so late to pick her up. Shes only
just six.
HATTIE
Six year-olds are the worst.
ELIZABETH
Siblings?
HATTIE
No, I teach.
ELIZABETH
You dont look old enough.
HATTIE
Im seventeen and Ive been
teaching for, like, almost a year.
Im a swim teacher.
Elizabeth sits up and looks over at Hattie.
ELIZABETH
In Hobton?
HATTIE
Yeah.
Hattie meets her eyes.
HATTIE (CONT.)
What?
Elizabeth looks away.

12

ELIZABETH
Im taking my daughter to swimming
lessons today. You see, thats why
ImHATTIE
(Interrupts, laughing)
Oh really, in Hobton? Well, its a
small place, I was bound to know
the woman who hit me with her car.
Whats her name?
ELIZABETH
Mary Wordsworth.
(Pause)
Do you teach her?
HATTIE
No, but I think I did when she was
in stage 2. Small girl, wore a
dolphin swimming costume?
Elizabeth gnaws at her lip and Hattie picks at her glove
again. They are silent a moment and then Elizabeths phone
rings. She pulls it out of the holder turns it off, then
throws it onto the back seat. Hattie watches her. Elizabeth
sighs.
ELIZABETH
Is she a good swimmer?
HATTIE
I said I dont teach her anymore.
A beat.
ELIZABETH
This is the first time Ive taken
her to swimming lessons.
HATTIE
Oh.
(Pause)
Shes doing very well for her age,
really.
ELIZABETH
Really?

13

HATTIE
Yeah. Shes quite little so
struggles to keep up, but she does
it all properly and doesnt cheat.
She works hard, you know?
ELIZABETH
She does?
(Quiet)
Maybe she is like me a little bit.
HATTIE
Yeah but she doesnt rush. Shes
never in a hurry. Not impatient.
Thats how people get hurt.
The two look at each other for a moment and then the traffic
moves and Elizabeth looks away.
ELIZABETH
Im late.
HATTIE
Yeah whatever.
Elizabeth looks over at Hattie.
ELIZABETH
Is she good in class?
HATTIE
Yeah.
(Pause)
Shes got a few friends she
chatters to. A little girl called
Kate mostly.
ELIZABETH
Who?
HATTIE
Um, I think they go to school
together.
A beat.
ELIZABETH
I work full time. Thats why I do
wish I could collect her more
often.

14

HATTIE
Wishing doesnt work. People
always wish stuff was different
but do nothing to change it.
Elizabeth looks over out the corner of her eye.
ELIZABETH
Like what?
HATTIE
Like wishing they were thinner or
wishing they saw their kid more.
Or that their kid was better or
smarter or whatever.
Hattie stares at Elizabeth but she is looking ahead.
HATTIE (CONT.)
What?
Elizabeth shakes her head.
HATTIE (CONT.)
Thought so.
Hattie looks out the window again. Elizabeth runs a hand
through her hair.
ELIZABETH
So you live near here?
HATTIE
Yeah, in Polham.
ELIZABETH
What is it like to grow up around
here? I imagine its nice?
HATTIE
It sucks. Were so far away from
everywhere and the busses are crap
and if I didnt have my bike Id
go crazy. I cant drive yet.
Elizabeth frowns. Hattie takes off her cycling gloves. The
tractor has pulled in and the traffic starts moving again.
ELIZABETH
How will you get home?

15

Hattie is focused on tucking her gloves into her rucksack as

she speaks.
HATTIE
Ill just get a lift.
ELIZABETH
Will your parents have finished
work?
HATTIE
Who said anything about parents?
ELIZABETH
I justHATTIE
(Interrupting)
I can sort myself out.
Elizabeth looks at herself in the rear-view mirror and tucks
her hair behind an ear. They are no longer in the countryside
but approaching Hobton now.
ELIZABETH
You must be a good cyclist. Thats
an expensive looking bike.
HATTIE
Its not as much as some bikes.
(Pause)
I cycle with Polham Cycling Club.
Ive got a time trial this Sunday
and I want to move up a category
so I have to come first to get
enough points.
ELIZABETH
Oh?
HATTIE
Yeah.
A beat.
ELIZABETH
Hows your knee?
HATTIE
Ive had worse road rash.

16

ELIZABETH
Should I drop you at the leisure
centre?
HATTIE
No, its okay. Just go straight to
the school and I can walk from
there. Im early now.
A beat.
HATTIE (CONT.)
I went to school here. It was
nice. A good school.
They drive down Hobton high street in silence. Its a long
straight road with shops on both sides and a few speedbumps
along it. Elizabeth drives quickly over the speedbumps making
them both jolt in their seats. They stop at a zebra crossing
as a few school children cross.
ELIZABETH
Im late.
HATTIE
Youre not that late.
Elizabeth looks at her smiling slightly and Hattie folds her
arms. They are heading towards the end of the high street,
where it joins a residential area and is quieter, with no
people in sight.
HATTIE (CONT.)
So you can slow down on these speed
bumps, okay?
It happens very quickly; Elizabeth thumps over the last
speedbump, the car tilts up and when it come back down there
is a MAN on a bicycle on their left, emerging from an alleyway
between two houses. He has grey hair, isnt wearing a helmet
and is on a bicycle which is much too small for him. He
doesnt look and cycles into the road, into their path.
ELIZABETH
Shit!

17
The car hits him at the same time as Elizabeth breaks, the
bike goes under the front wheels and the man is thrown onto
the bonnet for a moment, then falls out of their view.
Elizabeth and Hattie look at each other, frozen.
ELIZABETH (CONT.)
That wasnt my fault.
Outside they can see a WOMAN running across the road towards
them, a phone to her ear, her voice muffled inside the car.
Elizabeth grips two hands on the steering wheel and Hattie
stares at her. A car coming in the opposite direction has
stopped. The woman reaches them and disappears down in front
of the car bonnet.
ELIZABETH (CONT.)
That wasnt my fault.
EXT: A SCHOOL PLAYGROUND: CONT.
MARY WORDSWORTH, 6, sits on a bench in the almost empty
playground, she is wearing a pink helmet and a push-scooter
rests against the bench next to her. TWO MOTHERS are talking
whilst THEIR CHILDREN chase each other around the empty
tarmac. A TEACHER in a high visibility jacket stands by the
gate, glances at Mary and checks the time on his phone. Mary
kicks the heels of her trainers against the bench to make the
lights in the soles sparkle.

THE END