INTERIOR. EARLY MORNING. THE KITCHEN OF A SMALL SUBURBAN HOUSE.

It is a modest house, mostly second hand furniture. The sink is full of plates from the dinner earlier. A table sits in the middle of the room. A bottle of wine half empty and a totally empty bottle of Johnny Walker Black label stand next to each other but say nothing. They don't even acknowledge the others presence. Four chairs are splayed about the room. One has been tipped over.

A young girl, MARIE, lies on the floor, shivering in her night dress. It is torn around the collar. There is a drop of blood around her bottom lip. She is frightened and cannot move. In the adjoining room there are voices shouting. She cannot hear what they are saying. It is just noise that is deadened by the sound of her banging heart.

There is the loud sound of a slap from the room. It shakes her awake. It is followed by the thud of flesh striking flesh. Her hand, shaking uncontrollably, reaches up to the phone on the side-table. Marie dials slowly, making sure that her fingers hit the right keys. The phone at the other end rings and rings and rings and rings. There is more shouting from the other room. The phone rings and rings. Marie shakes. There is an answer. We hear the voice of a man, LIONEL, his voice still full of sleep.

LIONEL
Hello?

MARIE
Dap? ....dad?

LIONEL
(Suddenly awake and sober. Johnny Walker is not impressed)Marie? Marie? What's the matter?

MARIE
Somefing's haffened ... You need to come over ...

There is a crashing sound from the other room. Glass shatters, furniture tumbles. Johnny Walker takes it all in his stride.

LIONEL
What was that? Just stay there, I'll be right over.

A light goes on in the next room. It's knife's edge shaft lights up the kitchen. There are a few scraps of food on the floor. The pieces of a broken plate cower in a corner.

MARIE
Bye, Dad

Dissolve to ...

EXTERIOR. EARLY MORNING. OUTSIDE THE SMALL SUBURBAN HOUSE.

The road is wet from a recent shower. It glistens under the street lights. A dog barks at a passing car travelling slowly. The dog rushes after it barking at the tyres as if the car is a beast it will soon bring down and then feast on it carcass. The driver throws out a half eaten doughnut. The dog settles for this slightly smaller, more manageable carcass.