The Den

Marshall and Rory have been friends since they were young. Over their summer holidays, they find a secret basement below a derelict cottage that has been bulldozed, and they make it their escape from reality. Marshall's parents divorced five years ago, and his sister moved away to university three years ago. Although he lives with his dad, he is often angry about a hand injury that ruined his dream of becoming a famous guitarist. He takes a lot of painkillers and listens to loud rock music on a CD player. Marshall only talks to his mother via video calls, but they feel awkward because he never knows what to say. In contrast, Rory's mother is overprotective and gives strict curfews. Rory is also friends with Sam and Trev, but ever since Trev called his dad a loser, Marshall cut them off. At the time, Marshall and Trev fought, leaving Trev with a broken nose. All Marshall wants is to hang out with Rory and escape his home. But now his dad wants him to hang out with his boss's son, Greg, to help get him off his online games. Marshall reflects on the 'darkness' he feels around his dad. He and Rory sleep in the basement 'den', telling their parents they are camping in each other's backyards. They agree to keep the basement den a secret, even though Rory thinks it would be cool if Sam and Trev could come too. They camouflage the trapdoor to avoid other people finding it. Rory recalls happier times in Marshall's family when his dad would take Laney, Marshall and Rory on picnics to Given Hill, feeding them sweets and sandwiches made with crisps, playing music on his portable CD player, and teaching them to play air guitar. When Rory asks again about including Sam and Trev in the den hangout, Marshall loses it with him and stabs his bike tyre with a screwdriver, causing him to be late home and face his mother's wrath. Their friendship must be over. How will they be able to reconcile?