"THE SWEEPER OF DREAMS"
FADE IN:
INT. AMANDA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
AMANDA lies asleep in bed. Above her flicker the shadows of a beautiful dream - flowers in sunshine, people laughing, a stolen kiss, hands touching for an instant.
		AMANDA
	Ah, yes, that's so... Yes, thank you. Why not? Yes, why not? Ah.
The SWEEPER appears, carrying a small vacuum cleaner. He vacuums up the shadows. Amanda stirs. The Sweeper watches her for a moment as she wakes, then exits.
		AMANDA
	Oh, what a lovely dream! Ah, so very lovely. It was all so clear. There was a... Was a... I just had it! There were... I've forgotten. I don't remember. Ah, but it was lovely. Lovely. Well, time to get up.
INT. CHARLES'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
CHARLES lies asleep. Above him flicker the shadows of a nightmare - a monster, a flash of lightning, running.
		CHARLES
	No! Keep back! Keep back, I tell you! No!
The Sweeper appears with his vacuum cleaner, and vacuums up the shadows. He watches as Charles wakes, then exits.
		CHARLES
	Oh, that was horrible! I won't forget that in a hurry. There was a.... What was it? There was.... I don't remember. Just as well. Time to get up.
EXT. IN FRONT OF AN OFFICE BLOCK - DAY
Standing near the entrance is a ragged homeless woman, SYBIL. She talks to unseen beings above her head, waving her arms as though trying to swat flies.
		SYBIL
	Get away from me, will you! Leave me alone! Oh, why doesn't he come back? Why did he go? I said leave me alone!
Amanda approaches. Sybil sees her.
		SYBIL
	Spare some change, love? Spare some change?
		AMANDA
	Poor thing. Here's something for a cup of tea.
		SYBIL
	Thank you, miss. Thank you.
Amanda goes into the office.
INT. LOBBY OF OFFICE - DAY
Amanda enters. The Sweeper has a broom, and is slowly sweeping the floor.
		AMANDA
	Good morning!
		SWEEPER
	Morning. How you liking this weather?
		AMANDA
	Too cold for me! I like a little sun.
EXT. IN FRONT OF THE SAME OFFICE - DAY
		SYBIL
	I said leave me alone! Oh, why doesn't he come back? Why did he go? Leave me alone! Get away from me will you!
Charles approaches. Sybil sees him.
		SYBIL
	Spare some change, love? Spare some change?
		CHARLES
	There you are.
		SYBIL
	Oh, thank you, sir. Thank you.
Charles goes into the office. WILLIAM approaches, busy checking his mobile phone.
		SYBIL
	Spare some change, love? Spare some change?
William walks straight past her and goes into the office.
INT. THE LOBBY - DAY
Charles comes in.
		CHARLES
	Morning all.
		AMANDA
	Hello Charles.
		SWEEPER
	Morning. Did you see the match?
		CHARLES
	Three - nil! How can we live it down? Losing three nil!
		AMANDA
	I had the loveliest dream last night. Can't quite remember. Wouldn't it be lovely to remember your dreams? Somehow I never can.
		CHARLES
	What about the nightmares? I had such a nightmare last night. Can't quite remember. Wouldn't it be awful to remember your dreams? I'm glad I never can!
William comes in.
		AMANDA
	I had the loveliest dream last night. Can't quite remember. William do you ever remember your dreams? Somehow I never can.
		WILLIAM
	Dreams? Nonsense. Time for work.
		SWEEPER
	(to William) How you liking this weather? (pause) Did you see the match?
		WILLIAM
	Not interested in football. Shouldn't you be working?
EXT. IN FRONT OF THE OFFICE - DAY
Sybil beats on the glass door with both hands.
		SYBIL
	No! No! You'll regret it! Respect the sweeper, Or you'll regret it.
INT. AMANDA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
AMANDA sleeps. Above her flicker the shadows of her beautiful dream.
		AMANDA
	Ah, yes, thank you.
The Sweeper vacuums up the shadows. Amanda wakes. The Sweeper exits.
		AMANDA
	Oh, what a lovely dream! Ah, so very lovely. I've forgotten. I don't remember. Ah, but it was lovely. Well, time to get up.
INT. CHARLES'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
CHARLES lies asleep. Above him flicker the shadows of his nightmare.
		CHARLES
	No! Keep back, I tell you! No!
The Sweeper appears with his vacuum cleaner, and vacuums up the shadows. Charles wakes. The Sweeper exits.
		CHARLES
	Oh, that was horrible! I don't remember. Just as well. Time to get up.
INT. WILLIAM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
William sleeps. The shadows of his dreams are grotesques - oddly formed creatures dancing and pulling faces. The Sweeper appears. He does nothing. He simply watches as William wakes. The shadows continue to dance.
		WILLIAM
	Get away from me! Am I still dreaming? Leave me alone!
Unseen by William, the Sweeper vacuums up the shadows and exits. William rubs his eyes, shrugs, and gets up as though nothing strange has happened.
EXT. IN FRONT OF THE OFFICE - DAY
Sybil has been joined by three other homeless people - they are the HOMELESS QUARTET. William approaches.
		HOMELESS QUARTET
	Respect the sweeper, Or you'll regret it. Learn from us, oh dreamer, learn. Respect the sweeper. Or you'll regret it. Respect the sweeper.
William walks straight past them, ignoring them, and goes into the office.
INT. THE OFFICE - DAY
William comes in.
		SWEEPER
	(to William) How you liking this weather? (pause) Did you see the match?
		WILLIAM
	Not interested in football. Shouldn't you be working?
EXT. IN FRONT OF THE OFFICE - DAY
The Homeless Quartet beat on the glass door.
		HOMELESS QUARTET
	Respect the sweeper, Or you'll regret it. Learn from us, oh dreamer, learn. Respect the sweeper. Or you'll regret it. Respect the sweeper.
INT. WILLIAM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
William sleeps. The grotesque shadows dance. The Sweeper appears. He does nothing. William wakes. The shadows continue to dance.
		WILLIAM
	Get away from me! Am I still dreaming? Leave me alone!
The Sweeper exits. William starts waving his arms as though trying to swat flies.
		WILLIAM
	I said leave me alone! Am I still dreaming? Get away from me!
The dancing shadows are joined by more shadows in the shape of the Homeless Quartet.
		HOMELESS QUARTET
	Respect the sweeper, Or you'll regret it. Learn from us, oh dreamer, learn. Respect the sweeper. Or you'll regret it, For if he once leaves you He will never return.
FADE TO BLACK