Author: Jacob Andrew Bower

Mark is at his desk looking dejected. Anni comes in.

Anni: David wants to see you?

Mark: I didn’t think he was here.

Anni: Sophie just rang down, he came in to speak to Mr Hartwell.

Mark: It’s over then.

Anni: The show?

Mark: No the network deal. Who else does he want?

Anni: Daniel and Louise. Should I fetch them?

Mark stands up, grabs his blazer and starts putting it on.

Mark: I can do it.

Mark walks out of the office, camera follows him as he walks into Daniel’s he knocks on the door.

Mark: David wants us.

Daniel and Louise stand up and walk with Mark up the stairs towards David’s office. Sophie let’s them in. Beth, Hugo and Sarah are already sat at the table. David is on the phone. He puts his hand up to Mark. They all take their seat.

David: I understand. Thank you for your call.

David hangs up, places his phone on the table and rubs his cheek.

Hugo: He’s pulled out?

David: yeah

Mark: Because of Andrew or me?

David: I think it’s a combination of all those things. We’ve been amateurs but one thing is for sure, you will never be talking to the press again.

Louise: shouldn’t have pissed of the press officer.

Everyone looks shocked at her but then David laughs and shakes his head. Everyone smiles looking at eachother.

Beth: What do we do now then? How long can we keep the project going?

David: Peter still has enough for us to operate

Mark: I have a few contacts, people who will be after merchandising rights. That will be enough to keep us rolling for a while.

David nods.

David: We just have to do things differently.

Hugo: Yeah we scale back, we are struggling for actors anyway so we pool from unknowns so we don’t have to pay them much.

Mark: If we go for more studio sets we can scale our budget back as well.

David: Can you handle that Sarah?

Sarah: Sure but it will push us back filming.

Daniel: Give us time to finish the script.

Mark: No this is good. We scale it all back and get filming. We don’t leak anything, we keep it all in house and only start showing the networks once we have some substantial filming done and a real working project.

Beth: They won’t be able to resist.

David: I want everyone on this table working together tomorrow and I want to see a re-vised time table and plan by the end of the day. Now get to it.

Everyone stands up, Mark looks at Daniel

Mark: Can you finish scene twenty three and get it to me by the morning?

Daniel: Sure thing.

Mark lingers in front of David while the others leave.

David: What do you want?

Mark: What a set of circumstances?

David: What? us losing our press officer a day before having a major PR disaster?

Mark: Yeah, I’m sorry about that.

David: It’s the least of my worries today.

Mark nods turns to leave but then turns back around.

Mark: How was Abi’s appointment?

David: Its cancer like we feared.

Mark walks towards David.

Mark: Oh, David I am so sorry. Is there anything you need?

David: Yeah. You to step up and help lead these people.

Mark: are you going to take some time off during treatment?

David: Not much.

Mark: We can handle it if you need to be there

David: No Mark, I need the distraction.

Mark: Okay. I promise boss. No more disaster’s, we will get it done for you.

David nods, zoom in on his face then zoom out scene has changed to David sitting in his armchair. Camera pans around to show the TV. It is showing the news.

Reporter: There seems to be no end to Mark Wilson’s belligerent attitude towards the Incel community and a lot of us here wonder what this means for the Lockheart TV series.

David turns off the Tv, sits forward with his head in his hands, Abi can be heard coughing from off stage.

End scene. End episode.

David and Abi are sat in a hospital reception room. They are holding hands. They both look up as the doctor walks in and takes a seat opposite them.

Doctor: How are you feeling Abigail.

Abi: I’m desperate for results.

Doctor: I know it’s taken awhile but we wanted to be sure but we believe the early treatment we started was crucial.

zoom in on Abi’s hand as she squeeze’s David’s. Cut back to wide view.

David: What are we looking at?

Doctor: We don’t like to lie during these sort of appointments but this is something that sounds life breaking the first time you hear it. While scanning we found evidence of tumours within your thyroid.

Abi looks devastated.

David: That’s why you were desperate to begin treatment.

Doctor: Attacking this early is the only way we like to do things.

Abi: what will be the treatment?

Doctor: We are going to continue with radioactive thyroid treatment.. While we do that, we will consider other options.

David: Surgery?

Doctor: That’s what we will be looking at yes but the tumours are still small and I hope the iodine therapy will work. I have some booklets for you to look at and I will see you next week.

Abi: Thank you doctor.

Doctor: There are people here for anything you need.

David: Thank you.

Abi and David stand up. Camera follows them as they walk out of the room. Suddenly Abi chokes and begins to cry.

David: Hey hey.

David hugs her.David: We are going to get through this. They’ve been treating it for a while. Now they know what they are fighting, they will get on top of it.

Abi nods

Abi: Are you going back to work?

David: I told everyone I wouldn’t be back today. They know what they need to do.

Abi: Don’t you dare even think about leaving this project.

David: I will if you ask me.

Abi: never

David: Let’s go home and get you a warm bath

Camera pans upwards towards a TV screen as David and Abi walk off stage. The Tv shows Mark, scene changes to the press conference.

Mark: The incident in question does not show that Andrew is un-stable.

Reporter 1: You think Mr Johnson is unstable?

Mark looks frustrated

Mark: That’s not what I said. Now we as an organisation have full faith in Andrew and his ability as an actor.

Reporter 2: Is he going to apologise?

Mark: I don’t think there is any need to apologise.

Reporter 2: Why not?

Mark: He was clearly pushed by Chris Munroe, asking questions that were completely out of order.

Reporter 1: So are you saying that Andrew Johnson had every right to assault?

Mark: It wasn’t assault and lets be honest haven’t we all wanted to hit interviewers every now and again.

Stunned silence. Mark looks panicked.
Mark: Obviously I don’t mean that I have ever wanted to.

Reporter 3: I have a source that says Hartwell productions is pulling out of your deal

Mark: *whispers* I haven’t heard that

Reporter 3: Sorry?

Mark: I haven’t heard that but if it is true then it’s their loss on leaving such a great show and I think it shows the shallowness of network executives and their Hollywood guilt trip from past in-discretions.

Stunned silence again. Cut to show Daniel with his head in his hands and Anni looking shocked.

Mark: To conclude. Andrew Johnson deeply regrets what happened, but he is looking forward to taking a break from press work to Film beware the dark desire. Thank you.

The reporters begin to walk away. Mark walks back towards Anni and Daniel.

Anni: Oh my God.

Mark: That could have gone better.

Daniel: Do you think Mr Hartwell might have watched that?

Mark: for sure.

Anni: Is it going to be bad?

Mark smiles

Mark: No. Nothing we can’t bounce back from. Now let’s get back to work.

End scene

Andrew is sat across a desk from an Chris. It all seems very nice.

Chris: I can tell you the public are really excited to see you on our screens once again.

Andrew: And I can’t wait to be back on their screens. This is a very exciting project. Mark and David are going to produce something incredible, they are making art in their offices.

Chris: Of course your bookmaker will be happy as well.

Andrew’s face drops.

Andrew: Excuse me?

Chris: I mean with the money you will be making from the show, I’m sure your book maker will love the extra money you will be spending on bets.

Andrew: I don’t gamble.

Chris laughs.

Chris: I’m sorry Mr Johnson but your gambling addiction has been well documented. Is Mark Wilson a gambler as well, is that where you met?

Andrew: That’s none of your business.

Chris: I think we all want to know your take on it.

Andrew: This show is fantastic. Seriously I’ve read parts of the pilot and its obviously award worthy.

Chris: Are you gambling on whether the show will win a bafta.

Andrew stands up.

Andrew: This is over.

He turns away but then turns back towards the Chris.

Andrew: You smarmy prick, having a go at someone just for cheap laughs. You’re not a journalist, you’re a clown.

Chris: And your not an actor Mr Johnson, you are a liability. I’ve got two to one that you blow it before the pilots even filmed.

Andrew runs over and grabs the Chris to his feet by his jacket before chucking him to the floor. Security quickly arrives. Scene changes to Mark with head against his chair his eyes wide. Anni suddenly walks in.

Anni: Did you see that?

Mark: Yeah.

Anni: I mean did you see that? There is going to be trouble.

Mark: That’s not trouble. Trouble is running down the stairs.

Suddenly David appears in the office doorway.

David: Mark.

Mark shoots up.

Mark: I know it looks bad.

David: Looks bad, this is bad.

Mark: I will handle it.

David: We hired him on your request Mark. On your request.

Mark: He was pushed, he was un-prepared with Liz leaving, no one briefed him.

David: And whose fault is that?

Mark looks hard at David who closes his eyes and looks opens them again looking apologetically at Mark.

Mark: I will sort this out.

David: How?

Mark points at Anni

Mark: Get some press here at once. I want to make a statement

David: I think we should let our office do it.

Mark: They will want someone high profile and we don’t have anyone in our press office. I will make this better.

Anni quickly returns. Anni: I’ve set it for one ’o’clock.

David: Sort it or he is out of the door.

Mark nods. David storms out. Mark sits back down in his chair with his head in his hands.

Mark is walking into his office looking exhausted. He stops to look in his office before continuing over to Daniel’s. Daniel and Louise are working.

Mark: Hey

Louise: Good morning

Daniel: Hey I wanted to show you this.

Daniel grabs some sheets of paper off his desk and hands them to Mark. Mark looks at them his face dropping.

Mark: This is scene twenty-three. Who told you to write scene twenty three?

Daniel: David came and saw me yesterday.

Mark: You don’t write scenes without me

Louise: We are screen writers.

Mark: I don’t care. This is my show, you write what I tell you to, not David.

Daniel: Sorry just doing as I’m told.

Mark looks up to the heavens. Then back down at Daniel.

Mark: Let me look at this?

Mark begins to read the script, pacing the room as he does. He stops and turns back to Daniel and Louise.

Mark: This is good. I will speak to David about roles but from now on write what I tell you.

Louise: Sounds reasonable.

Mark gives her a nod and walks back into his office. Anni isn’t there yet. He sits at his desk for a moment. There is a knock on the door and Andrew is stood in the doorway.

Mark: Hey, what are you doing here?

Mark stands up and shakes Andrew’s hand.

Andrew looks confused

Andrew: I came into see Elizabeth but the press people said she’s not here.

Mark: No. She’s got a new job, had to move on.

Andrew: Seriously?

Mark: Yeah surprised me as well. What did you need to see her about?

Andrew: She was meant to be prepping me on my interview with channel four news.

Mark: Oh right. I can handle that

Andrew: Really? I didn’t think you got on well with the press.

Mark: I don’t that’s why I’m the best one to know how to deal with them. He’s going to be confrontational you know that.

Andrew: Yeah, I guessed.

Mark: Don’t rise to it. Stay focussed on the show. If he pushes to hard jus throw some witty remark back at him and I’m sure he will back off.

Andrew: Sure I don’t need to go see one of the press people?

Mark: No you will be fine.

Andrew nods and goes to leave but stops as he turns back around to face Mark.

Andrew: You’re going to need to get a new press officer. Show won’t get off the ground without one.

Mark: We will work on it, now go and knock them dead.

Andrew smiles and walks out. Camera fades.

David is at home with Abi who looks ill.

David: I’m telling you now, it couldn’t have gone any better. They were practically eating out of my lap.

Abi: I knew you could do it.

David: We will start shooting in a few months’ time and then have the pilot ready for circulation.

Abi: I told you this time it would work out.

Abi coughs.

David: What did the doctors say?

Abi: They have taken some blood and they want me to have a scan next week. They think my Thyroid is swollen. They have given me some tablets

David: I will make sure I come with you next time. Network meeting or not.

David looks up as the doorbell rings. He stands up and answers it to Elizabeth. Her eyes are red and her mascara is down her cheeks.

David: What’s wrong, do you want to come in?

Elizabeth: No I need to get back to my apartment but I didn’t want to do this on the phone.

David: Do what?

Elizabeth: I can’t work on this show anymore

David: Why? Its Mark isn’t it. I will talk to him I will.

Elizabeth: No David, for my sanity you won’t. He has no place for me in his life and you don’t need me now either.

David: That’s not true

Elizabeth: I need to do this David. Please

Suddenly Abi coughs more violently. Elizabeth looks in.

Elizabeth: Is everything okay?

David: It’s fine. There is nothing I can do to talk you out of it?

Elizabeth: I’m sorry David. I just can’t.

David: I get it Kid. You need to look after yourself

He looks behind him.

David: projects like these have a way of giving you tunnel vision. That’s what Mark’s got at the moment, but the project is only a fleeting thing. Those around you are what’s important. I’m going to miss the hell out of you Liz, but you go make the best out of your life while you can.

Elizabeth puts her hand on David’s shoulder.

Elizabeth: David are you sure everything is okay?

David: I’m positive.

Elizabeth: I will send some notes to the team, make sure you still have some cover.

David: I will miss you kid.

Elizabeth gently kisses David on the cheek. David looks out the door as Elizabeth walks away.

End scene  

Mark is sat in the kitchen working, Elizabeth walks in and places a bag on the floor.

Elizabeth: Mark?

Mark places the sheet down

Mark: Yeah

Elizabeth: I can’t do this anymore.

Mark looks confused and starts walking slowly towards her.

Mark: Do what?

Elizabeth: This? She shrugs, we work together we don’t speak, we come here, and we don’t speak. It’s not what I imagined when we first got together.

Mark: Where has this come from?

Elizabeth: It’s been building for weeks Mark.

Elizabeth reaches her hand out and strokes at Mark’s face.

Elizabeth: You have the world inside your head Mark. At the moment you are focusing on this thing, you don’t have the place for me or for anyone. You need to do this.

Mark: What, we go to work and pretend we never happened? that isn’t going to work Liz.

Elizabeth: No, I couldn’t do that. I love this job Mark I really do and I appreciate you letting me come on this journey with you but for my sanity, I’m going to have to leave.

Mark: You can’t leave now we are this close to getting things going.

Elizabeth’s hands shoot in the air.

Elizabeth: This, this is what I mean. God show some humanity Mark, I just said I’m leaving you and your calm. The bit you get angry about is that I’m leaving the show. This is exactly what I mean.

Mark: I care about…

Elizabeth: You care about your ego and your work Mark. That’s all it ever was. You were with me because I smiled and giggled over every word you said, now I don’t boost your self-esteem you don’t talk to me. Pretty sure that’s all Daniel is as well, just someone else to tell you how good you are.  You’re right there is more to you than just being a genius, you’re a workaholic, un-feeling recluse.

Mark nods.

Mark: Yeah

Elizabeth shakes her head slowly, tears welling up in her eyes

Elizabeth: I loved you Mark.

Mark’s jaw tightens

Mark: You’re right, I can’t work with this.

Elizabeth nods and walks away, grabbing her bag she walks towards the door and slams it. Camera focuses on Mark as he breathes rapidly.

Mark: Dammit.

End scene with Mark picking up his laptop and going back to writing.

Beth, David and Hugo are sat in an office.

Beth: Did Mark say who he had hired?

David: Some kid who wrote a fan fiction of his work.

Beth: Seriously?

Hugo: David, don’t you think you are giving Mark a bit too much free reign on this project?

David: It was one of the agreements when he took it over and let’s be honest do you really think he is just going to let this kid write?

Beth: Exactly it’s a stunt so Mark can keep control of the writing. No good will come of it.

David: I’ve read some of the kids work, it’s not bad and with a bit of training he might make something

There is a knock at the door and mark and Daniel walk. Mark walks up to the desk and looks at some sheets that Hugo hands him. Daniel hangs back.

Mark: Everyone this is Daniel, he is going to be working on our screen writing team.

Daniel: Pleasure.

Mark: When did these come through?

Hugo: Last night.

Mark: I will get Anni to send them over to the studio.

David: We need to discuss shooting locations when you have a free minute, the shopping area isn’t going to work

Mark: Why not?

Beth: Because everyone will be shopping for Christmas by then.

Hugo: They don’t look to comfortably on being shut around that time.

Mark: We will sort something.

Daniel steps forward.

Daniel: I’m sorry is there something I should be doing.

David: Right yeah. Mark take him to go and see Louise, get the pair of them working on scene 23 for the pilot, we need the first draft done for casting next week.

Mark: Yeah.

Mark leaves

Mark: Follow me

Daniel timidly follows him out. They walk downstairs towards the writer’s office. Talking as they walk.

Mark: Strange thing about this place is you need to be ready to have meetings in the hallways. When you are in your office you will want that to be a meeting free zone. People never come and see you when you’re in your office. Well apart from me probably.

Daniel: Right.

They stop at the office and Mark opens the door. Louise looks up.

Mark: This is Louise, she is going to be your writing partner.

Daniel: Hi

Louise: Yeah we spoke the other day.

Mark: Of course.

Daniel: So do you have any notes for me for scene 23?

Mark: yeah don’t worry about that I will be in to work with you through that later. Why don’t you two get to know eachother, work on some small things and get the juices flowing.

Daniel taps at the desk.

Daniel: Okay yeah, sounds good.

Mark: Your desk is there, if you need me my assistant Anni is just next door. Welcome to the team.

Mark leaves. Suddenly Elizabeth grabs him.

Elizabeth: Hey

Mark: Hi

Elizabeth: I’m just going to get some lunch fancy it.

Mark: What for?

Elizabeth: To eat Mark. come on.

Mark: Oh I can’t I need to finish this work.

Elizabeth: I meant you know me and you go and have something to eat together, like boyfriend and girlfriend.

Mark: Yeah I know what you mean it’s just I can’t leave this stuff now. Tonight though.

Elizabeth looks down sadly as Mark disappears.

Elizabeth: yeah tonight.

Scene changes back to Daniel.

Daniel sits down at his desk and smiles nervously at Louise.

Louise: build up scenes.

Daniel: Excuse me?

Louise: That’s all we ever write here. Scenes that build up to something else. The stuff most likely to get cut.

Daniel: Then who writes the rest?

Louise: Mark and then we get the fun of editing it.

Daniel: If you don’t like it, why are you here?

Louise: Because no matter what, my names going to be on the credits as a screen writer and if that isn’t great for the CV, then nothing will be am I right?

Daniel: Yeah *he sighs* your right.

End scene  

Daniel is sat behind a desk answering phone calls.

Daniel: Yes, don’t worry we cover all of that for you *Pause* Trust me you won’t find better coverage than us.

Nicola walks over and stops at Daniel’s desk, leaning over towards him.

Daniel: I will just pass you over to another member of our sales team.

Daniel presses a button on his phone and then turns towards Nicola.

Daniel: What do you need?

Nicola looks shocked.

Nicola: Mark Wilson, the author, he is in my office and he wants to speak to you.

Daniel looks shocked.

Daniel: What? Why?

Nicola: He wouldn’t say

Daniel: I think I know why.

Daniel looks gutted. He stands up and walks between a few desks and stops by Chloe’s, she turns around to look at him.

Daniel: Mark Wilson wants to see me

Chloe: Who?

Daniel: The author, the one I wrote the fan fiction about

Chloe: Ah.

Daniel: Why would he want to see me?

Chloe: Probably upset that you are a better writer than he is.

Daniel: I better go and see him.

Daniel walks away from Chloe and opens a door into an office. Mark is stood in there flicking through some sheets.
Daniel: Mr Wilson.

Mark turns around and quickly shakes Daniel’s hand

Mark: You are Daniel Hart, author of this fan fiction?

Daniel: Yeah, listen I’m sorry, I know I shouldn’t plagiarise your work.

Mark puts his hand out and smiles.

Mark: Its fanfiction you are meant to plagiarise. You know I started writing Fanfictions.

Daniel: Really? How old were you?

Mark: Twelve.

Daniel nods nervously.

Daniel: I’m sorry to be rude Mr Wilson but what are you here for?

Mark: As you know I’m working on a television series.

Daniel: yeah it’s been all over the news.

Mark laughs slightly.

Mark: yeah it has, well I’m moving up and becoming a producer and I need a screen writer who understands my work.

The realisation seems to dawn on Daniel.

Daniel: Mr Wilson, I’m no screen writer.

Mark: Not yet but you have potential.

Daniel: seriously, this would be like a serious thing and I only write fan fiction.

Mark: Exactly, what do you think this show is but fan fiction of my novel. You will be perfect for it.

Daniel: No.

Mark: Listen this is like some cliché movie thing going on here, but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You have a chance here to help me write and I’m going to be honest not every average joe gets that chance but I did once so I’m offering it to you.

Pause as Daniel thinks.

Daniel: I have a job, a life, I can’t just run away from it. I mean I will have to speak to my girlfriend.

Mark: you have two seconds. Come on, when you were writing didn’t you at least dream for a second that you would be able to work on something like this?

Daniel: Yeah but that’s a game.

Mark: now its reality.

Daniel looks horrified but finally he smiles.

End scene