Category: Episode 1

Scene begins with Elizabeth walking into the office. She smiles at Hugo and Beth as she walks past, goes up to the stairs to see David. Camera focuses in on Daniel and Mark looking at her as she walks up. Camera switches back onto Elizabeth as she goes over to David’s office.

Sophie:
 Elizabeth. Hi

Elizabeth steps in.

Elizabeth:
Hi Sophie. I’m here to see David.

Sophie points to the door.

Sophie:
You can go in. Glad to know you are helping us out.

Elizabeth nods and walks in to David’s office. He is reading the latest script.

Elizabeth:
Hi David.

David puts down the paper and stands up.
David:
Hi Liz.

David hugs Elizabeth. They separate.

David:
You’re looking well.

David goes back behind his desk.

Elizabeth:
Thanks, How’s Abi?

David points to the seat and sits down. Elizabeth follows him.

David:
She is getting there.

Slight pause while Elizabeth shuffles in her seat.

David:
We are in a bit of trouble Liz.

Elizabeth:
I will say. That’s why I want to help you

David:
 We need you back, I want to offer you a job.

Elizabeth:
David, I’ve got a job, a job I love. Really I want you to succeed and I’m going to help you but that’s it.

David nods and hands her the script he was reading.

Elizabeth:
What’s this?

David:
Mark just sent it over, it’s a scene where Andrew’s character meets with a group of Incel’s. Go on have a read.

Elizabeth reads the script. A small smile spreading upon her lips.

David:
Some of his best work don’t you think?

Elizabeth:
Its very good. Gets the otherside out perfectly but if he’s written this as a response to me leaking out the line, everyone will know it.

David:
That’s right but he wrote it three weeks ago.

Elizabeth looks stunned.

David:
Mark’s grown up Liz, we’ve all grown up. This isn’t some playground nonsense because Mark’s Incel brother used to beat him and tried to kiss all of his girlfriends. We aren’t trying to hurt these people but no one believes that because of stories like what you’ve written.

Elizabeth:
David listen.

David:
No you listen Liz,

Elizabeth seems shocked.

David:
This show will change things for people who feel lost and helpless, it will help turn a man whose lost everything through addiction into a top flight actor and may be able to create some real change. You have a chance right now to become a part of that. You have a chance to help create something magnificent and wasn’t that the reason you got into media journalism. To report on Magnificent things. Elizabeth its time to step up and come back into the big league.

Camera focuses on Elizabeth Camera fades and fades back into a shot of David walking Elizabeth out of his office. She shakes David’s hand and walks down the stairs, ignoring Mark as she passes. Mark looks up at David who nods his head. Camera focuses in on Mark, who smiles and turns back around towards his office. He walks over to an open door and peers in. Daniel and Lousie look up at him. He signals an Okay with his fingers. Daniel and Louise make victory gestures. Mark does a little skip walks into his office. Anni is waiting for him.

Mark:
Okay then Anni, what’s the next Job.

Camera zooms out as Anni walks up to Mark, her voice fading.

Anni:
Sarah wants you to come down and check out the school quickly and the one show want you on to discuss how you came into this company.

Camera fades. End Scene. End Episode.

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.

Mark and Daniel are sat in Daniels office at the desk looking over the laptop. Louise is sat at her desk writing.

Louise:
So let me get this straight. They got the line from us?

Mark ignores her for a second.

Mark:
That’s good… Yeah… You think you might want to use a word over two syllables at any point.

Daniel stops writing.

Daniel:
Louise asked you a question.

Mark spins in his chair to face her.

Mark:
Yeah, we gave the script to around thirty people for testing.

Louise:
What sort of people.

Mark:
Friends. Family

Mark stands up and walks over to a bowl of fruit and grabs some grapes.

Mark:
Employee’s, ex employees.

Daniel turns around in his chair also.

Daniel:
Even Chloe’s read it.

Mark:
Sure she’s not the leak?

Daniel laughs.

Daniel:
No way

Louise:
You sure she was pretty annoyed at you yesterday.

Daniel:
She wouldn’t leak it.

Mark:
Why?

Daniel:
She never got through the whole show. She didn’t like it.

Mark:
Dump her, get rid, right now.

Louise:
So who do you think did leak it?

Daniel:
My bet is that was that guy from human resources who didn’t like you.

Mark:
Yeah he was weird.

Louise:
Why didn’t he like you?

Mark:
He was going out with Anni.

Louise:
Now that makes sense.

Mark: N
o he wasn’t clever enough to leak it, whoever it was would have to have been close with a member of press.

Louise:
Probably your ex-girlfriend

Mark’s face drops, Daniel smiles and points at Louise.

Daniel:
There you go, she’s solved it.

Mark shakes his head.


Mark:
No way. No way she wouldn’t do it to me.

Anni walks in.

Mark:
Trust me Anni I’m fine you don’t have to keep checking in on me.

Anni:
I know who published the first story.

Mark:
 Who?

Anni:
 Elizabeth

Daniel’s eyes widen and he looks nervously towards Louise. Mark is clearly stunned.

Mark:
Elizabeth who?

Anni:
She wrote it on her blog. Mark the papers and news outlets picked it up from there.

Mark:
Elizabeth who?

Anni:
You know who Mark.

Mark slams his fist on the table.

Mark:
God dammit.

Anni:
Calm down.

Mark:
I’m going to kill her. I swear she just wants to ruin my life.

Mark grabs his things and goes to leave.

Daniel:
What are you going to do?

Mark stops in threshold of the door.

Mark:
I’m going to pay that manipulative devil a visit and find out why she wants to ruin my life.

Mark storms out of the office. Anni stops by the door and shouts out to him.

Anni:
Do you want me to make an appointment?

Mark shouts back from out of shot.

Mark:
NO!

Anni disappears, Louise leans over towards Daniel.

Louise:
I wish I could be a fly on that wall.

Daniel:
I don’t.

They smile and return to there work. End scene. End scene

Andrew walks into a betting shop. One person is sitting at the counter reading the paper. The clerk is behind his desk.

Clerk:
Morning Andrew. Didn’t expect to see you here.

Andrew walks over to the desk and shrugs.

Andrew:
We’ve had a bit of trouble at work. I think I’ve finally worked out who has started this problem but that just going to cause more trouble. So I thought I would come for a walk and spend some my earnings from yesterday.

Clerk:
not bad, going to spend it all on here I hope?

Andrew shakes his head.

Andrew:
Nah just wanted to stick a few quid on for the rugby tonight.

Clerk:
Only a couple of quid.

Andrew nods

Andrew:
yeah just something to make it interesting you know.

Andrew pays for his bet and receives the ticket. He is stopped before he can leave.

Old Guy:
Hey superstar

Andrew turns around to face him.

Old guy:
Not very often I see your face in the news paper.

Andrew:
What do you mean?

Old guy:
Have a read

Andrew grabs the paper and slowly reads it, his jaw tightening. Continues to read while speaking

Old guy:
Didn’t bet right on that one. Says you’re an addict.

Clerk:
What?

Andrew:
Its lies.

Andrew *Whispers*:
Son of a bitch

Clerk:
I thought I read something about that a while ago.

Andrew:
It’s a lie. If I was an addict wouldn’t I be on a register somewhere

Clerk:
I suppose.

Andrew finishes reading and chucks the paper on the table. He walks back up to the desk.

Andrew:
Hundred quid on four at the next at Henlow.

Clerk:
You sure?

Andrew:
Just do it.

Andrew pays the clerk and receives the ticket. He walks outside and grabs his phone after a few seconds its answered.

Andrew:
Is that Anni?

Pause

Andrew:
Great. Is Mark there?

Pause.

Andrew:
Anni I know who first published the story.

End scene

Mark walks into the office. Anni is waiting for him.

Anni:
Morning.

Mark stops and stares at her.

Mark:
Morning. Were you waiting here for me?

Anni smiles.

Anni:
I was.

Mark:
Why?

Anni:
I was worried about you.

Mark:
Strange woman.

Mark carries on walking and Anni follows him as they walk through the building.

Anni:
You look terrible, have you slept?

Mark:
Not a wink.

Anni:
You really should sleep its.

Mark:
Anni.

Anni:
yeah?

Mark:
What do you have for me?

Anni hands over the documents that have been resting in her hands.

Anni:
All the major papers are running the story about the kid. A lot of online stuff is falling directly onto you.

Mark:
Any mention of us in the papers?

Anni:
I’ve highlighted a few areas but I wanted you to look for yourself.

Mark:
And it’s all in here?

Anni:
Yeah and I’ve sent some over to Beth, Daniel and Hugo to look at.

Mark and Anni both stop at the bottom of the stairs.

Mark:
Are they all up there?

Anni:
I think they are waiting for you.

Mark:
Okay. Anni thank you for this.

Anni smiles.

Anni:
Anything else you need?

Mark:
Yeah can you get hold of Andrew and see if he knows anything else.

Anni:
With pleasure.

Mark looks disgruntled.

Mark:
Anni now’s not the time for jokes.

Anni:
I know, I will be good.

Mark:
I will see you in a minute.

Anni leaves shot into Mark’s office. Mark turns around but stops as Daniel calls.

Daniel:
Mark.

Mark:
yeah?

Mark and Daniel begin walking up the stairs together.
Daniel:
Have a good night?

Mark:
It was brilliant watching myself get slated on the news again and again until dawn. Yours?

Daniel shrugs

Daniel:
I’ve been ignoring phone calls most of the day. Chloe wants me to resign.

Mark:
Maybe you should. I’m sure you can earn a good wage commenting on how terrible I am.

Daniel:
Come on Mark.

Mark:
No I’m serious. They pay good wages for that.

Daniel:
I’m not going anywhere and I’m actually a little bit annoyed that you thought I would.

Mark:
Sorry I’m tired. Have you got some comments?

Daniel:
Yeah and Louise is finishing off the confrontation now.

Mark:
I will come and sit in with you after this. Can’t bear to be around Anni she is in mothering mode today.

They stop outside David’s office where Sophie is busy working.

Daniel:
Hi Sophie.

Sophie:
Hi guys.

Mark shrugs.

Daniel:
Is he ready?

Sophie nods.

Sophie:
Hugo and Beth are already in there.

Mark and Daniel enter the room. Camera follows them. David, Hugo and Beth are sitting at the desk they stop their conversation as Mark and Daniel enter. Mark and Daniel take their seats. Mark immediately starts going over the papers.

David:
Lets begin. Beth?

Beth:
From my point of view we are quite good. A few people have pulled out of casting but we’ve actually had more applications.

Daniel:
Why is that?

Beth:
They think we are going to admonish Incels and some people want to be a part of that.

Hugo:
Well we aren’t going to admonish them.

Mark looks up.

Mark:
After the trouble they’ve caused me, I think I will.

David:
So we can go ahead with casting. See if we can ride the train of negative press on that front.

Hugo:
But our lead might not be so lucky.


David:
What do you mean?

Hugo passes a sheet of paper to David.

Hugo:
Andrew isn’t the most popular actor as it is. Seems a few papers have it in for him.

David passes the sheet over to Mark who scans it before handing it to Daniel.

Daniel:
Ex-gambling addict bets on wrong show to boost career.

Beth:
Catchy headline.

Hugo:
On our front there is only one line about the show, the rest just goes into his past.

Mark:
It’s going to kill him.

David:
Do you think he might pull out?

Mark:
I doubt it. He’s a good guy. He knows that not many people would give him a chance to get his career back on the up. Andrew’s grateful.

David:
Good. Daniel. What do you have for me? It better be good news.

Daniel:
Well Mark set me to doing comments for the press, which is great but I don’t know where we stand.

David:
We stand to protect the show.

Daniel:
I get that but do we support the line and therefore support the notion that all incels and this kid are evil or do we deny the scene is there.

David looks at Mark.

David:
Can we deny it?

Mark shakes his head.

Beth:
How did they even get the line?

Mark:
 They got it from us.

Hugo:
Sorry?

David:
Back when we first started we sent out scenes from the pilot to friends, ex staff people like that. We wanted to get feedback on how the scenes were reading.

Mark:
One of them would have given it to the press.

Beth:
Fantastic.

David:
Our position?

Mark:
I don’t think we can take a side.

Hugo:
Why?

Mark:
Because the show doesn’t take a side. This scene does but the show on the whole is a lot more sympathetic towards Incels than my book was. Its right in the middle and we could get that across if we had some of the pilot filmed but still we would need a media manager to get it out there.

David:
Daniel. Work versions of this to your questions. It is alarming to us that this line is causing harm to some people. It is taken out of context and does not state the position of the show or its creators, on the people known as Incels. We will look into this matter and consider whether the line should be in the show.

Daniel:
Great.

Mark:
It’s good.

David:
What about you?

Mark:
Well we aren’t front page news.

Beth:
That’s a start.

Mark:
The kid is though, in fact he’s page two and three as well. The issue is we get a nice column on page three of most newspapers. Mark stops as he reads one of the papers.  In fact in some I get a whole page.

David:
What’s your play?

Mark:
I’m going to hang low. Make it seem like its business as usual. I will help Daniel with the comments and oversee Louise with her work but I won’t make any statement myself. Anni is looking into who published it first. If I find that out, I might find who gave them the script. See if they hate us and how many more things I’ve written, that they might be hiding in the closet.

David:
Good work. People I want this day to run smoothly and will someone please get us closer to filming this pilot. I don’t want us getting bogged down by this. Get to work.

Everyone stands up and leaves. End scene.

Full episode available as a free download on the Behind the Screen page.

que acoustic version of Hallelujah

A scene that moves focus from each of our main characters. Scene starts with Daniel walking into his living room, moving the blanket over Chloe before moving over to his laptop and beginning to work on it. Scene fades to show David watching the news, while writing some notes down, camera pans round to show Abbi fast asleep. Scene then cuts to Mark who is also on his laptop, screen pans round to show that it is three am on his clock. Scene changes again to Andrew and focuses in as he drinks whiskey and bets on horse racing. Staking one hundred pounds on a race. Finally scene cuts back to Mark as he is doing sit-ups. As he rises he takes a sharp in-take of breath and grabs his side. Mark stands up gingerly before grabbing his phone and checking it. Camera focuses on the time and shows it to be five Am. Mark stands up and walks off to grab himself another coffee.

End scene

Full episode available as a free download on the Behind the Screen page.

David is asleep in his lounge chair. He is woken by his phone ringing. (This scene will cut constantly between David and Mark.)

David:
yeah?


Mark:
It’s happened.

David:
The news have the line?

Mark:
Yeah.

David puts his left hand to his face.

David:
How bad is it?

Mark:
I’m working on that but I wouldn’t put the news on if I was you. I’ve got Daniel working on some comments from us, I will work with him tomorrow.

David:
Do we know who first published it?

Mark:
Andrew is going to find out for me if he can. *pause* David.

David:
yeah

Mark:
We will get through it.

David smiles.

David:
You better hope so, if we don’t then you’re going to have to find a new job.

Mark:
We will talk in the morning.

Mark hangs up the phone, gently taps a table and then walks off screen.

End scene

Full episode available as a free download on the Behind the Screen page.

Immediate cut to Daniel, sat with Louise as she has a laughing fit.
Louise:
You wait he is going to kill you.

Louise laughs again.

Louise:
I can’t wait to see it.

Daniel:
You need to have less drink

Louise:
And you need to work on another scene.

Daniel checks his phone and tries to ring Chloe.

Louise:
Who are you calling?

Daniel pauses and looks concerned.
Daniel:
 Chloe but she’s not answering.

Louise:
Don’t worry about that just get me another drink. Genius writer man.

Daniel hangs up and gently stands up.

Daniel:
I’m going to get another drink.

Camera follows him as he walks to the bar, he taps Mark on the shoulder and carries on walking, camera crawls away from Daniel as it turns towards Anni and Peter talking at the bar.

Anni:
I’m just saying you were amazing in Cooper street.

Andrew:
I was only on it for a year.

Anni:
Yeah but those were the best year.

Anni stands up straight. looking confused at herself.

Andrew:
You would have been what?

Anni giggles.

Anni:
 Thirteen.

Anni:
But you were really good.

Andrew looks really confused.

Andrew:
I’m sorry you are?

Anni:
 Oh I’m Anni, Mark’s assistant.

Andrew smiles.

Andrew:
You’re his sister.

Mark suddenly appears and grabs his drink.

Mark:
And the bane of my life. Anni.

Mark leans in close to Anni.

Mark:
Didn’t I tell you not to be weird around Andrew.

Anni:
I’m not being weird.Andrew:
No its nice to meet a fan.

Anni’s phone begins to ring she ignores it and stares at Andrew.

Anni:
I am a fan.

Andrew points towards Anni.

Andrew:
Your phones ringing.

Anni:
Yeah it is.

Mark looks confused and turns towards Andrew before coming back to Anni.

Mark:
Anni.

 Mark taps Anni on the shoulder.

Mark:Your phones ringing.

Anni looks embarrassed.

Anni:
Right. I should answer that.

Anni grabs her phone, gives a gentle wave and then walks off screen. Mark turns back towards Andrew.

Mark:
I’m sorry about her. I did say not to be weird but she’s not quite used to this sort of company.

Andrew:
trust me its fine. Nice to know someone remembers me.

Mark:
Its not that I’m worried about it but she’s going to be your point person when you need to get to me and I can’t have her you know. Making a fool of…

Anni:
Mark.

Anni comes back into shot, Mark ignores her with a wry smile.

Anni:
Mark.

Mark waves her away.

Mark:
Anni I’m sorry I won’t embarrass you.

Anni:
Mark it’s out there.

Mark’s face drops, he turns around and looks at Anni.

Mark:
The show?

Anni:
Yeah.

Mark:
Okay.

Mark walks away from the bar.

Anni:
What are we going to do?

Mark:
Okay.

Anni:
Mark what do you want me to do?

Mark turns back around.

Mark:
Andrew, I’m sorry but somethings come up.

Mark walks over to the table, Anni and Andrew follow.

Louise:
What’s up Daddio?

Mark:
It’s out.

Daniel looks shocked.

Daniel:
Oh god.

Andrew:
By out, you mean that line from the show?


Daniel:
Whose got it?

Mark turns towards Anni.

Mark:
Anni?

Anni:
I don’t know who first wrote it but it’s everywhere now.

Andrew:
Mark, you assured me it wasn’t going to be an issue.

Mark grabs his stubble.

Mark:
We will sort it. Daniel, go home start working on some statements for the press.

Daniel:
I’m a script writer.

Mark:
Until we have a press officer you are everything.

Daniel nods. Mark turns towards Anni.

Mark:
Anni, I need you to talk to whoever you can. Pull me every copy of every story on this. I need to know how much they know.

Anni smiles.
Anni:
 Sure thing.

Anni disappears.

Mark:
Andrew, I need you to get onto any contact you have. Find out who first published the story.

Andrew:
You can handle it.

Andrew nods and then laughs as he walks away.


Louise:
What do you want me to do?

Mark:
Go home and sober up.

Louise:
That it? I can help Daniel with comments.

Mark:
Not today.

Louise:
Why not?

Mark:
Because me and Daniel will be working on them in the morning.

Louise:
I can help.

Mark leans on the table.

Mark:
I need you to do our work tomorrow.

Louise looks shocked.

Mark:
Tomorrow is going to be the worse day of our careers. Mine and David’s names are going to be dragged through the mud and I’m going to be blamed for that kids death today. I need you to do the work that we can’t tomorrow Louise. I need you to step up.

Louise nods.

Louise:
Now I know I’m drunk.

Mark turns away with his head in his hands.

Daniel:
I will get her home.

Camera turns to just focus on Mark. Anni returns and gives him a quick hug before stepping away.

Anni:
I’ve made a start.

Mark:
Email me when you get the chance. Do you need me to get you a taxi home?

Anni smiles.

Anni:
I’ve got one coming and I got one for you as well. It will be here in about twenty minutes.

Mark:
You are too good to me.

Anni:
I know. mines here but I will email you when I get home.

Mark:
I will see you in the morning. be in early its going to be a bad day.

Anni walks away but quickly turns back.

Anni:
It’s not your fault Mark.

Mark smiles slightly.

Mark:
Yeah. I’m going to wake David.

Anni smiles solemnly and then walks away.

End scene

The Camera pans around the bar, Daniel, Louise and Anni are talking on a table, it moves passed them towards the bar, where Andrew and mark are talking.

Mark:
Cheers.

Mark lifts his drink and nods in Andrew’s direction. He takes a quick drink. Andrew takes his slowly.

Andrew:
Your statement was good.

Mark:
It was hiding under the rug. What’s the point in writing about these groups and not speaking about them?

Andrew:
The kid was killed, its not worth putting your reputation on the line. There are enough people who hate you.

Mark laughs.

Mark:
Thank you very much.

Suddenly a woman comes up, holding a copy of Mark’s book.

Fan:
Mr Wilson.

He turns and smiles at her.

Mark:
Yeah?

Fan:
Can you sign this for me?

Mark grabs the book and pulls out a pen from his pocket and begins to sign his name.

Mark:
Enjoy the read, best wishes, Mark Wilson.

He hands the book back.

Fan:
Me and my friends.

The fan points to a table on the otherside of the bar.
Fan:
Are studying literature. It would be amazing if you could come over and have a chat.

The Fan plays with her hair. Mark nods uncomfortably.

Mark:
Maybe later.

The Fan smiles and walks away over to the table. As she disappears. Andrew stands up straighter.

Andrew:
You can have my autograph if you want?

His shoulders drop.

Andrew:
Since when did the world change and the writer become more popular than the actor

Mark laughs.

Mark:
People finally realise the genius.

Andrew:
They will remember me again. They won’t have a choice. I will be appearing on their Televisions every single day.

Mark places a hand on Andrew’s shoulder

Mark:
The joys of press tours.

Mark takes hold of his drink and takes a long gulp from it.

Mark:
 For my first book Kevin had me doing Tv and radio four times a day. The man’s crazy for it. Thank God for social media, do it all in one.

Andrew:
Just get me behind a camera, that’s the only place I feel comfortable.

Camera leaves them and pans back over to Daniel, Louise and Anni.
Louise:
I swear he was an absolute pig and he stank.

Louise and Anni laugh, Daniel looks really uncomfortable.

Anni:
I was with this guy called Adam once.

Anni scrunches up her nose.

Louise:
Looks like you liked him.

Anni:
Oh he was great, Mark on the other hand.

Louise:
Oh that must not have been easy.

Anni:
Was all fine until he walked in.

Louise:
You mean while you were?

Anni:
Yeah full swing. in fairness we were in his room.

Louise:
That’s terrible.

Anni:
he never forgave us and did what ever he could to split us up, Adam wasn’t bright.

Daniel:
Mark’s favourite person.

Anni:
Well Mark was too clever for him and when he found out that Adam was cheating, him and my other brother Tony went after him.

Daniel:
I didn’t know you have another brother.

Anni nods and takes a sip of his drink.

Anni:
He is four years older than me, two years older than Mark.

Daniel:
Mark never mentions that.

Anni:
Him and Mark don’t talk much anymore. You see Tony was our parents real child and they were like best friends as kids but when Mark began to make it, I think he felt isolated and some resentment about not being their real child or something. They just fell out.

Louise:
Weird.

Louise turns towards Daniel.

Louise:
What’s your worse sex story?

Daniel looks horrified.

Daniel:
I don’t have one.

Louise looks shocked at him.

Louise:
Nothing at all?

Daniel:
Nothing.

Anni:
What about any sex story? lurid love affairs as a teenager?

Louise and Anni laugh.

Daniel:
I’ve only ever been with Chloe.

Louise:
No way.

Anni:
That is so cute.

Daniel:
She is my world.

Daniel Smiles at them.

Daniel:
I would do anything for her.

End scene.

Pilot Scene 19.




Daniel is eating dinner with his girlfriend. The Tv is playing in the background but they seem to be un-aware of it. Daniel is enthusiastically telling a story.

Daniel:
And I have no idea what I’m meant to do because Mark is my mentor the guy whose teaching me everything and David is asking me to go behind his back with this scene.

Chloe:
What’s the issue anyway?

Daniel:
 Mark’s books about Incel’s and the spy trying to take them down?.

Chloe:
I’ve read it.

Chloe smiles cheekily at him.

Daniel:
Right yeah, sorry. Well that bit in the school. Right at the beginning. The main character makes this huge mistake at a school and the kid gets shot by police. Then he says something about it being just one more lonesome freak off the street.

Chloe nods.

Chloe:
I remember. He was criticised massively for not understanding or respecting the trauma some Incel’s went through.

Daniel:
 Exactly but it was what Mark was trying to show that the character didn’t understand the Incels. Some Incel gets killed just after the books released and everyone blames Mark for it. He weathers the storm and the next two books become a best seller. That scene is in the show with that line. That wouldn’t be an issue but.

Chloe:
A kid today took a shotgun into his school and held them hostage.

Daniel:
 And he just so happens to be an Incel. Then the police shoot him and.

Chloe:
One more lonesome freak off the street.

Daniel:
We have to be so careful and hope they don’t realise that the same scene is played out in the show.

Chloe:
That’s why you need the alternate scene.

Daniel:
I can’t do much about it, now I have to sit with Mark tonight and pretend that I’m not working on crushing his legacy while we talk.

Chloe has a sad smile on her face.

Chloe:
Oh. That’s why you wanted dinner early.

Daniel:
Yeah I thought we would have a bite to eat and then head down to the oyster and see everyone.

Chloe:
We did that last week.

Daniel:
Yeah well its been a stressful day I thought it might be nice to un-wind.

Chloe:
We can do that here though Daniel. Sit down, watch tv, just us, like we used to.

Daniel:
That was back then, I don’t unwind like that anymore that was before.

Chloe:
Before what? Before you got friends, I am the only person who has been with you through everything.

Daniel places his fork on the table

Daniel:
Please Chloe, don’t be like this?

Chloe:
You don’t get it do you Dan. You don’t see it.

Daniel:
It’s only for a couple.

Chloe smiles, concealing a tear.
Chloe:
It’s okay. You go with your temporary friends. I will stay here watch the soaps and unwind on my own. I will only bring your mood down.

Daniel smiles naively.

Daniel:
Are you sure?

Chloe:
Positive.

Daniel stands up and kisses her on the cheek.

Daniel:
 I love you.

Chloe:
yeah.

End scene