Knights of Earth Publications

Camera fades into Mark’s apartment he is on his laptop. Elizabeth walks in with a glass of wine.

Elizabeth: Is there any point me being here if you are going to be working all night

Mark sighs.

Mark: I thought you were watching the soaps on TV?

Elizabeth: Mark its ten o’clock

Mark looks at his watch in amazement. He quickly shuts the laptop.

Mark: Is it. I don’t know where the time goes.

He spins around to face Elizabeth

Elizabeth: Are you coming to watch something with me then?

Mark: yeah I just need to

Elizabeth: need to?

Mark: There is just one more thing.

Elizabeth: Your pissed at me?

Mark: No I’m not.

Elizabeth: Yes you are, you only ever act this distant when you are angry with me. I can’t believe it.

Mark: I wish you would get off my back about this scene.

Elizabeth: I thought we decided that we will leave work at work.

Mark grabs his laptop.

Mark: This is my work, look around you, all of this is my work.

Elizabeth: Then take a break and forget about it.

Mark: Why don’t you ever back me up? It seems like every time I make a decision; I have to go twelve rounds with you. I’m your boss.

Mark stops and looks down. Elizabeth wipes away a tear.

Elizabeth: And there I was, thinking I was your girlfriend.

Mark: I’m sorry, we shouldn’t do this now.

Elizabeth: No, I think we should. I argue with you Mark because you’re an amateur playing at being pro. You think you know everything and as soon as anyone else tells you otherwise you get defensive and threaten to quit. Does all this mean so little to you?

Mark: This means everything to me.

Elizabeth: Then start acting like it and for god sake act like I mean something to you as well.

Mark: Liz?

Elizabeth: leave it Mark, I’m tired I’m going up to bed.

Elizabeth walks off camera. Mark turns around slowly and opens his laptop. Slight pause as he looks at the screen. Suddenly he shuts it again and walks towards the bedroom, the camera follows him Elizabeth is in the bathroom running the tap. Mark walks in muted conversation and then they hug. Camera fades. End scene

David is at home on the phone.

David: No listen, we need to push forward *Pause* I don’t care how much it costs I’m not filming every scene inside a studio. *Pause* Listen just get the scouts out there.

David hangs up. A voice shouts from the kitchen in a raspy voice.

Abi: What was that about?

David: Hugo is worried about scouting locations. He’s afraid we won’t be able to afford multiple real-life sets.

Abi: if you film everything in a studio, everyone will be able to tell.

David: I know that, and you know that, even Hugo knows that but he is so worried about money.

Abi appears in the doorway.

Abi: Any luck with a network?

David: me and Elizabeth are sweetening the deal tomorrow.

Abi: You will get it sorted.

Abi disappears. David begins writing suddenly he can hear coughing coming from the kitchen. He stands up and runs into the kitchen. Abi is bent over the sink coughing profusely David quickly runs her a glass of water.

David: That’s its Abi.

Abi: *Gasping* I’m fine.

David: You are not fine, look at you. This isn’t a cold Abi. I’m booking you in for an appointment and I’m taking you myself.

Abi shakes her head.

Abi: No. You have your meeting tomorrow.

David: It can wait.

Abi: No, it can’t. I will make the appointment just to prove to you that it is just a cold.

David looks unsure.

David: Okay then. Let’s get you into bed, the dishes can wait.

End scene

Camera follows Mark as he walks upstairs and goes into David’s office . Elizabeth and David are waiting for him. David looks hard at Mark.

David: You look terrible.

Mark points at Elizabeth.

Mark: She keeps me up at night.

Elizabeth smiles.

David: That’s something I don’t need to know. But seriously kid, are you sleeping?

Elizabeth shakes her head.

Mark: Only when I get finished.

David: Maybe I should soften up your schedule.

Mark sits down.

Mark: We don’t have anyone else to do the work.

David: A discussion for another day I guess.

Mark: what’s the discussion for today?

Elizabeth: You are not going to like it.

Mark smiles coyly at her

Mark: If the press are involved then you’re probably right.

Awkward silence follows.

Mark: Someone start.

Elizabeth: We need to talk about the school scene.

Mark: this again?

David: She’s sold me

Elizabeth: We really need to consider altering it.

Mark: We alter it and we lose half our audience.

Elizabeth: I hardly believe that.

David puts his hand up.

David: Can it be done?

Mark: I’ve finished the scene and if I’m honest it’s the only one I’m truly happy with.

Elizabeth rolls her eyes.

Mark: If I’m going to change it, there should be a valid reason why.

Elizabeth: Because when it was in your book and that guy got killed in the store. Not that it was your fault.

Mark: Sounds like you’re saying it is.

David: hear her out.

Elizabeth: We don’t need a PR disaster. Let’s be honest we could be one day away from that with the actor you chose to cast. When details of the pilot leak, which you will want me to start doing soon, any wise news director will find footage from that day and run it all week long.

Mark: I’m sure they are done with that.

Elizabeth: You are a beloved genius. The press will never be done with trying to tear you down.

David: I’m not sure we want this negative press.

Mark: We need to ride it. Any negative press we get will be outweighed by the positive ones. If I stay on this project, then the scene stays.

David and Elizabeth look at eachother.

Elizabeth: If you have a press officer you should listen to them.

Mark: A press officer should be helping the show, not hindering it.

Elizabeth: Trust me that’s what I’m trying to do.

Mark: David listen. This show needs that scene. The people who want to see the show won’t care and those that don’t already hate it without us giving them a reason.

David nods.

David: You know your art.

Mark: Are we done?

He looks sadly at Elizabeth who turns her gaze away from him.

David: For now.

Mark: Great.

Mark stands up and leaves the room.
Elizabeth: That was a mistake.

David: I hope I’m not stepping onto anything personal?

Elizabeth: You’re not.

David: He is your boyfriend.

Elizabeth: Doesn’t mean I can get through to him. David trust me when I say this scene will cause trouble. I was paid to write about things just like this. Mark might pretend he’s shrugged all that stuff off from his first novel, but I think that might be the reason behind his stubbornness.

David: We will keep on him.

Elizabeth: good.David: Go take a break, I can tell you are pissed at him best not to take that home.

Elizabeth: Thank you.

Scene ends.

Mark is sat at his desk looking at his screen, with Hugo.

Mark: So we are happy about mixing in some humour?

Hugo: it’s a dark series, we need to add some levity

Mark: Perfect.

Anni walks in.

Anni: sorry but Sophie just sent a message over. David wants to talk to everyone in the atrium and Andrew is here.

Mark stands up.

Mark: Excellent. Hugo I will bring Andrew up with us.

scene changes, Andrew is stood in the main entrance looking around. Mark comes running down the hall.

Mark: Hey

They shake hands

Andrew: Nice offices

Mark: Yeah, not that you are going to see much of it, apart from maybe a few of the conference rooms for script reading.

Andrew: Right.

Beth walks passed Mark quickly points at her.

Mark: Beth.

Beth starts walking over and smiles at Andrew.

Mark: Andrew this is Beth, she’s going to be handling the casting.

Andrew: yeah we’ve worked together before

Beth: I started off on cooper street as well.

Mark: I did not know that

Beth: Actually Andrew, I have a list in my office of a few of our casting prospects, would you like to have a look?

Andrew: yeah sure, anything I can do to help

Beth walks off

Andrew: So going to give me the tour?

Mark: No time, David’s coming down to give us all a pep rally I think. Down here is the press area, you are going to want to avoid that. Upstairs is my office and the floor above that is where the producers meet.

From off screen.

Elizabeth: Mark, I need a statement.

Elizabeth appears but stops as she spots Andrew.

Elizabeth: Mr Johnson

Mark: This is Elizabeth, she’s heading our press office.

Andrew: Elizabeth, you wrote the article about me getting arrested?

Elizabeth looks mortified

Elizabeth: I’m sorry.

Andrew: Its fine you were doing your job.

Elizabeth: If you want we can spend an hour today, work out a statement and interview about how excited you are to work for the show.

Andrew: Sounds good.

Elizabeth turns back to Mark.

Elizabeth: I’m going to need that statement?

Mark: Yeah, Anni has it.

Elizabeth: You didn’t upset anyone in it did you?

Mark: Me never.

Elizabeth: I will see her after this. Any idea what David is going to say?

Mark: I’m sure it will be folksy wisdom.

Andrew: So you didn’t write his speech for him?

Mark: I offered but you know, he wants to do it himself.

Elizabeth shakes her head and walks off camera
Andrew: She’s cute.

Mark: Eyes off superstar.

Beth returns.

Beth: There you go.

Andrew: Cheers, I will have a look later

Mark: Here we go.

Entrance begins to fill with people. David stands on one of the steps. Camera will flick between characters as David speaks.

David: Well here we all are. For some of us this has been a long time coming, for others it is just your first day but we are all here for a common purpose, to create something brilliant that will enhance the lives of so many people, no more than those who work here. Those who have made mistakes or have felt lost or who have something more to give to the world. Today the works starts so, time to get to it.

Round of applause.

Mark: he should have let me write it.

Andrew: It lacked a little flair

Beth: Guess he’s a director for a reason.

They laugh and walk off together.

End scene

David is stood in his new office, when Sophie walks in.

Sophie: Is there anything else you need?

David: Yeah, can you let me know when Mark gets here.

Sophie: Will do.

Sophie goes to leave but stops as David speaks.

David: What else do I have today?

Sophie checks over her notes.

Sophie: Staff meeting at nine and then you are interviewing staff for the rest of the day.

David: I want time to sit down with Mark.

Sophie: You know that’s something you should probably tell me yesterday.

David: Will there be time?

Sophie: because I always plan your schedule for the next day.

David: You just want to control me.

Sophie: that is kind of my job.

David: And?

Sophie: I will find time.

Sophie leaves, she is followed in by Beth and Hugo.
David: Beth will you sit in with me during these interviews, I want to make sure I have another person to suffer with me.

Beth: No worries.

David: Hugo, Mark is going to be here later, I want you two to work together for the day, see if we can get the message synced.

Hugo: No problem, it will be a pleasure.

David: You ever spent five minutes with a genius? I’m telling you, it won’t be.

Sophie re-enters.

Sophie: Mark is here.

David: Excellent, tell Anni that I want to see him in here for a staff meeting.

Scene changes to Mark walking into the building. He looks around and then heads up the stairs into his office. Anni is waiting for him.
Mark: Now this is more like it Anni.

Mark grabs some sheets of paper and checks out his computer.

Mark: No more working out of my small apartment. Now I have a real office.

Anni: but I don’t

Mark: Why do you need an office?

Anni: The office next to yours is free.

Mark: That’s an office for screen writers

Anni: We don’t have any screen writers

Mark: Then someone else will use it.

Anni: I think I should have it

Mark rolls his eyes.

Mark: What do I have?

Anni: David wants to see you.

Mark: Okay brilliant, I need you to get me some research pieces on modern day military fire arms.

Anni: You got it.

Mark walks out of the office then quickly comes back in.

Mark: Where is David’s office?

Anni: The next floor up.

Mark: Thanks.

Camera follows Mark as he walks up the stairs towards David’s office.

Sophie: Hi Mark

Mark: Hi

Mark looks confused.

Sophie: I’m Sophie, David’s assistant.

Mark: Great. pleasure to meet you, do I just?

Mark points at the door.

Sophie: Just go in.

Mark walks into the office. David stops his conversation.

David: Hey kid.

Mark: I like your office, I mean this whole place is really nice.

Hugo walks towards Mark
Hugo: We are going to make some art with it

Mark: You must be Hugo

Hugo nods. Mark and Hugo shake hands.

Beth comes forward

David: This is Beth Powell she will be handling casting

Mark: Pleasure

Mark and Beth shake hands. Then Sarah comes closer.

David: Sarah here is our set designer, she’s going to be working out of the studio.

Sarah: I can’t wait to work with youMark: And you.

David points towards the large table.

David: Shall we?

They all go to sit down.

David: Mark, what are you working on today?

Mark: I’ve got two scenes to work through. Andrew is coming in later so I’m going to work some lines with him.

David: Show him around then work with Hugo, we need to sort out the tone of the show

Mark: You got it.

David: Okay what’s next?

End scene

David and Andrew are sat across from eachother at the table.

David: You understand that this is small time, we won’t be able to pay you an extortionate fee.

Andrew: No I get that, I’m just happy to be given the chance.

David: You wouldn’t be if it wasn’t for Mark

Andrew: I know and I appreciate it.

David looks down and runs a hand through his hair.

David: I’m sorry that was rude.

David smiles.

David: I’m not usually this miserable I swear just this means everything to me.

Andrew nods.

David: First of all you will stop that nonsense gambling, it clearly puts you in a bad place from what I was reading this morning. I’m going out on a limb here as well, my last shot at doing something in this industry and I won’t have it ruined by a prima donna.

Andrew: I understand.

David: Alright then, I won’t mention it again. Secondly, I don’t want you playing big shot actor on us. This isn’t something for you just to use as a platform.

David reaches down and pulls out a small folder.

David: That’s why we want you on a three season contract.

Andrew smiles coyly as he takes the document and begins reading it.
Andrew: Are there even three seasons written?

David: We are working on that.

Andrew: David I understand my past and I won’t lie I’ve been in some bad places over the last couple of years but I want to be a part of this until the end.

David: I’m glad to hear it.

They shake hands.

David: We are going to write a new chapter in both of our lives.

End scene

Mark: David is certain trust me *Pause* I can assure you *Long pause* Peter please, Andrew is a good actor, he just needs a break like the break you gave me. *Pause* Peter you get me as well that’s got to account for something. If it all goes wrong, you can tell the press it was all my fault.

The doorbell rings. Mark turns around in his chair.

Mark: Listen Peter someone is here, me and David will come see you tomorrow, see what you think of the start to this script. See ya tomorrow, goodbye.

Mark puts the phone down as the doorbell rings again. He stands up and walks towards the door. Opening it to reveal Elizabeth.

Mark: Liz, what are you doing here?

Elizabeth looks nervous.
Elizabeth: I was just in the area.

Mark: Come in.

Elizabeth walks in, Mark shuts the door and they both walk into the kitchen.

Mark: You were in the area?

Elizabeth runs a hand through her hair.

Elizabeth: I don’t ever really do this, I mean I’m not usually a desperate person.

Mark: I wonder what would give the impression that you were?

Elizabeth: it’s just I had a great time last night and this morning and then that Andrew thing happened and I knew that annoyed you. I tried to apologise and who I’m guessing is your sister said you would phone me back later but when you didn’t, I don’t know. I just thought last night worked and I wanted it to be more than one night.

Mark: So you walked all the way to my door?

Elizabeth: You should use it in a novel.

Mark: That’s too cheesy. That’s only made for television.

Elizabeth smiles.
Elizabeth: So are we all good.

Mark: We are good. Would you like a drink? I just opened a bottle.Elizabeth nods.

Elizabeth: Please.

Mark walks into the kitchen.

Mark: You can leave your coat anywhere.

Elizabeth removes her coat. Mark returns and gives her a glass of wine. They both sit on the sofa.

Mark: Do you want a better exclusive than Andrew Johnson getting into a fight?

Elizabeth: What have you got?

Mark: What do I get in return?

Elizabeth: The thanks of a grateful journalist.

Mark: Me and David Andrews.

Elizabeth: The director?

Mark: yeah. That script I showed you, I was writing it for him. We’ve got some backing and we are going to adapt my novel.

Elizabeth looks shocked.

Elizabeth: you are going into screen writing full time?

Mark: Cancelled my press tour and everything.

Elizabeth: This is incredible, I can’t wait to report on it.

Mark thinks for a second.

Mark: Do something better.

Elizabeth: Sorry?

Mark: Help shape it.

Elizabeth: You mean?

Mark: Come manage our press.

Elizabeth: I haven’t done press for shows since my uni days, now I only ever report on them.

Mark: Then you know what’s coming, what people are going to say. You have contacts, you can get us into the papers. It’s perfect actually.

Elizabeth: I like my job.

Mark: Don’t just comment on the world. Shape it.

Elizabeth: And what will I get in return?

Mark: The thanks of a grateful author.

Elizabeth creeps closer to him

Mark: And you know a salary and other benefits.

They both become face to face.

Elizabeth: Not good enough

Mark and Elizabeth kiss.