Scene 27

Mark walks through an office, smiling to extra’s. He stops at a door and knocks. A woman’s voice beckons him in. Mark opens the door. Elizabeth is sat behind her desk, working on her laptop and looks shocked when he walks in. Mark quickly shuts the door.

Elizabeth:
 Mark.

Elizabeth shuts the laptop.

Mark:
Do you just hate me that much?

Elizabeth:
Listen

Mark:
Did I do that much wrong to you?

Elizabeth:
Mark.

Mark:
I mean really Liz are you trying to tear me down still?

Elizabeth:
Enough Mark geez.

Mark rubs his cheeks.

Elizabeth:
A Hello might be nice.

Mark:
Really? after you published that rubbish?

Elizabeth:
Its news Mark, and I don’t think its right that you come into my office and start having ago at me for doing my job.

Mark:
You had a job.

Elizabeth:
Now I have another.

Mark:
attacking me and my work.


Elizabeth: You messed up Mark. I told you, David told you, the world told you. You can’t have that line in the show. If you had a press officer I’m sure they would have told you as well.

Mark:
WE HAD ONE. YOU WERE OUR PRESS OFFICER. WE WERE ONE DAY AWAY FROM HAVING A NETWORK TAKE ON THE SHOW. THE PILOT WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BY NOW AND WE WOULDN’T BE FLOUNDERING BUT YOU LEFT AND SINCE THEN ITS ALL GONE TO SHIT. ALL BECAUSE YOU LEFT.

Elizabeth stand up sharply.

Elizabeth:
Don’t come and yell at me in my office.

Mark takes a breath.

Mark:
I’m sorry.

Elizabeth nods and walks around her desk to stand opposite Mark.

Elizabeth: Mark its my job to report on these things, its what I need to do to get paid.

Mark: Why did you leave?

Elizabeth takes a step back.

Elizabeth: I’m not doing this.

Mark: Come on Liz, why did you leave? It wasn’t because you hated the show.

Elizabeth: No it wasn’t.

Mark: Did you hate me?

Elizabeth smiles sadly.

Elizabeth: No but I was starting to.

Mark: Then why, when you first read the pilot script in that bar, you said it could be the best thing you’ve ever seen and now your trying to destroy it.

Elizabeth: That’s my job.

Mark: Liz, we are floundering. I am struggling to hold these people together.

Mark turns around like he is about to leave but he quickly turns back to face her.

Mark: They look to me to be the one to save the show. David is the leader but everyday his wife’s getting sicker and it is tearing him a part. We don’t have a star that can give us any weight, trust me Andrew is brilliant but he’s not the person you bet on to keep a show like this together, Daniel, Louise, Anni they all work so hard but they can’t help me. We need you back.

Elizabeth laughs and goes and walks back behind her desk.

Elizabeth: Your serious?

Mark: I need to be there as producer, I can’t handle the press as well. I’m no good at it.

Elizabeth: Now that’s the biggest understatement you ever said.

Mark smiles slightly.

Mark: You like the show, you like David. Come back and help us get it right.

Elizabeth: I’ve got a job Mark.

Mark: Not a very good one.

Elizabeth: I prefer it to working with you lot.

Mark points at her.

Mark: I don’t believe that.

Elizabeth nods.

Mark: At least come and meet with David. Have a sit down with him and tell him how we get ourselves out of this mess.

Elizabeth looks around as she struggles with the decision.

Elizabeth: I will come and see David but only because I like him.

Mark smiles.

Mark: Listen, I’m sorry I yelled that was wrong of me.

Elizabeth: You’ve had a hard week.

Mark: I will see you later.

Elizabeth: I will see David later.

Mark: Yeah.

Mark turns around but stops as Elizabeth calls him.

Elizabeth: Mark, you do know your sister is a media analyst right, she should be you’re press manager.

Mark laughs.

Mark: Well Liz, I’m glad to know your sense of humour hasn’t changed.

Mark walks opens the door and walks out of the office. Elizabeth smiles before opening the laptop and continuing to work.