Category: Episode 2

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.

Andrew is sitting in the betting shop, watching greyhound racing. Mark walks in nods at the clerk.

Mark: Andrew?

Andrew turns around and looks strangely at Mark.

Andrew: Mark? What the hell are you doing here?

Mark walks over and takes a seat next to Andrew.

Mark: I went to your house and your girlfriend said you would probably be down here.

Andrew: That doesn’t answer the question.

Mark: I came to see you. What happened last night?

Andrew rubs his head.

Andrew: I got drunk, I upset some police and now I’m going be spending the next three months doing charity events.

Mark: That sucks.

Andrew turns around to look sharply at Mark.

Andrew: Are you sure you really want to be here? You’re not afraid you might get photographed?

Mark: I told you before, the press has ago at me enough.

Andrew nods and smiles.

Andrew: So what do you want?

Mark: I was going to ask why you can’t get on Tv anymore but I think I know that now.

Andrew: Yeah I’m the height of employability.

Mark goes into his bag and pulls out his script.

Mark: I’m working on something.

He hands it to Andrew, who immediately begins to read it.

Andrew: I always thought your book would make a good TV show.

Mark: Just need a good actor to be in it.

Andrew puts the sheets down.

Andrew: Your joking right?

Mark: You’re the perfect age for the lead, you’ve done serious roles like this.

Andrew: In a minor capacity.

Mark: This will be a small production, I can’t get a big name actor but I can get a good one out of the hole he’s dug for himself.

Andrew looks down.

Andrew: You will be dooming it before it even begins.

Mark: I have a plan for all that?

Andrew: What studio is it with?

Mark: None at the moment. In fact I’ve not even shown it to the production team yet.

Andrew: Typical, a role comes around for me and it doesn’t even exist.

Mark: If I can get you a meeting with the Director, would you consider it?

Andrew smiles
Andrew: Sure but after my example yesterday, I wouldn’t hold your breath.

Mark: I have some conditions.

Andrew: I thought as much.

Mark: Kick this habit, it’s no good for you and get yourself to the gym. Can’t have my Tony Lockheart carrying twenty stone can I?

Andrew smiles sarcastically.

Andrew: It’s  a deal.

Mark: Great

Mark stands up sharply and points at his script.

Mark: You can keep that, I’ve got some people to go and see.

Mark leaves the store. Andrew looks down at the script.

Clerk: Fancy anything else Andrew?

Andrew sighs while grabbing the script.

Andrew: No. I think I’m done for the day.

End scene

David and Hugo are sitting in a restaurant looking over some scripts. David places his down.

Hugo: So it’s a no?

David also places it down.

David: It’s a no.

Hugo: Can I ask why?

David: It’s got no drive, no passion and I’ve got to be honest, the final episode twist is just moronic.

Hugo: it subverts expectations.

David: Only because it makes no sense.

The waiter/waitress walks over.

Server: Can I get you some food?

David: I will have a full English, without the beans.

Hugo: Just some fried eggs on toast.

Server: I will bring that over shortly.

Hugo: big breakfast.

David: I won’t eat again until Abi cooks me something

Hugo taps on the script.

Hugo: Sure you don’t want to take another look? We could always amend it.

David: That’s the issue. I don’t want a script that we are constantly having to amend. I want the writers to be good enough to do their job.

Hugo: And I thought we had a winner there with that one. Why not film a pilot, we don’t need to hit it out of the park first show, build up slowly.

David: In this game there are no third chances, I’ve had my first, I need this one. Anyway I’m betting on something else.

Hugo sighs.

Hugo: You still think you can tempt him over don’t you.

David: The kids young, he’s fresh and he’s got more talent than any script writer we could hire.

Hugo: And he’s also making a fortune doing talk shows. He’s hardly going to want to turn that down to come work for us.

David: You don’t know him like I do. He wants to change the world and he will be frustrated to hell that it isn’t happening fast enough. Trust me he will come on board.

Hugo: What do we do about actors then?

David: I’ve hired Beth Powell to start us some work on casting, seeing whose soon going to be leaving contracts, of course we can’t get any actors without the role.

Hugo: I’ve worked with Beth before, she is good.

The waitress comes over with their food and places it down in front of them.

David: Damn I’m going to enjoy this.

Camera fades end scene.  

Mark and Elizabeth are sat at the bar.

Elizabeth: Well I think that’s everything.

Mark: You sure. You don’t want to ask me what I had for breakfast this morning? who my high school crush was? What lurid things I get up to in the darkness of night?

Elizabeth: No I think…

Mark: Its messed up stuff

Elizabeth: My readers are fine just getting hints towards your next book.

Mark: I’m sure they are.

Pause as Elizabeth puts her laptop away. Mark takes a sip out of his drink.

Mark: So you’re a media journalist?

Elizabeth: Yeah, it helps pay the bills.

Mark takes a sip out of his drink.

Mark: Go to university?

Elizabeth: Five years for my sins.

Mark: Five years?

Elizabeth: The first three were just studying journalism but I majored in film and media

Mark: My sisters doing that actually. The film and media part, not so much the journalism.

Elizabeth: Is she good at it?

Mark laughs.

Mark: Not really. Her idea of media journalism is whether an actors hair looks good.

Elizabeth: Sadly that does seem to be what it’s all about.

Mark: So do you read a lot of scripts?

Elizabeth: Mostly pre-views for finales that sort of thing.

Mark reaches into his rucksack and pulls out some sheets.

Mark: This is something I’ve been working on. Would you mind having a read?

Elizabeth: Sure

Elizabeth begins to read the script. Smiling every so often.

Elizabeth: This is incredible. Adapted from your book I’m guessing?

Mark: I’ve found you have a lot more freedom to develop the story on a screen play.

Elizabeth puts it down and looks up at Mark

Elizabeth: How long have you been working on that?

Mark: Since about ten o’clock this morning

Elizabeth looks shocked.

Elizabeth: You are a freak.

Mark: So they tell me.

Elizabeth looks at him and smiles.

Elizabeth: You know I half expected you to be some Eton snob but the whole crazy background is true isn’t it?

Mark: I might have been an Eton snob had my parents lived long enough

Elizabeth: Oh, I’m sorry.

Mark: Liz I’m joking. I don’t even remember them. It’s nice to not need to play the intellectual though. People expect me to behave in a certain way, talk a certain way and if I’m honest that’s not the real me.

Elizabeth picks up her glass and clinks it onto Marks.
Elizabeth: Well here is getting to know the real you.

End scene

Andrew is sat watching the horse racing. His horse loses and he slams his fist into the bar.

Andrew: God dammit.

Andrew turns around and sits back at the bar.

Barman: Betting much?

Andrew gives him a dirty look.

Andrew: More than I care to mention.

Barman: I saw you on the walker show tonight. Sure, betting is the best thing you should be doing?

Andrew: Didn’t know you were paid to give me advice.

Barman smiles.
Barman: No, I’m here to get drinks for washed up actors. So can I get you one?

Andrew: Cheapest whiskey.

Barman: I will make it a double.

Grace walks into the bar and immediately stands next to Andrew.
Grace: Hey sugar.

Andrew turns around and smiles at her. They share a quick kiss.

Andrew: How was your day?

Grace grabs a stool and sits at the bar.

Grace: Nothing sensational. Just doing auditions for a commercial all day. I swear to god, I don’t know where Hollywood finds kids that can act. London is full of prima donna parents with kids that can only speak as though they are asking a question. God child actors make me sick.

Andrew looks up at her.

Andrew: I started as a kid

Grace: And look where that has gotten you.

Barman comes back over with Andrew’s whiskey. Andrew reaches into his pocket and pulls out a handful of change. Grace looks down as Andrew begins to count it out. Andrew hands the barman the money who walks away.

Grace: Andrew what happened to the money you got for Shakespeare last week?

Andrew grabs the glass and empties it.

Grace: You didn’t did you? On the horses?

Grace grabs hops off the stall.

Grace: I’m going to get something to eat.

Grace storms off Andrew signals for another drink.

End scene

Mark walks out of the green room, into a corridor where Elizabeth is waiting.

Elizabeth: Mr Wilson.

Mark stops and smiles at her.
Mark: yeah. You must be the reporter Anni wanted me to speak to.

Elizabeth: I’m Elizabeth Wayne

Mark: Mark Wilson.

Elizabeth blushes.

Elizabeth: yeah I know that.

Mark laughs.

Mark: Of course, sorry.

Slight pause.

Mark: So what do you want to ask me?

Elizabeth: My readers are dying to hear about your next book, I was hoping we could discuss that.

Mark: Sounds good. Let’s go find somewhere to talk. End scene

David walks into his home. Abi is cooking dinner.

Abi: you are home late?

David puts down his briefcase and crashes on the sofa.

David: Just had a meeting with one of my producers.

Abi walks into the room with two glasses of wine, she hands one to David who takes a sip out of it.

Abi: Did he finally have a script worth reading?

David: It was good but nothing that we want to produce. I’m looking for something with a bit of spark a bit of life to it.

Abi: Did you speak to Mark today?

David nods.

Abi: And he turned you down?

David gives Abi a wry smile.

David: That kid has never turnt anything down in his life, I put the seeds in his head and I swear to god he won’t stop now till he writes me something. He’s just that sort of guy, I gave him a challenge and he will want to complete it.

Abi: I better start losing weight then if I’m going to be in a television show again.

David: And here I was thinking you had given up on that game.

David kisses her.

Abi: For Mark I would come back to acting. He is just the best.

David suddenly sits up straighter.
David: Talking of Mark, he is on the Walker Show today.

David gets the remote and changes the channel. Camera focuses on the Tv as it shows Mark sitting on a stage with Walker

Abi: turn it up, I love listening to him.

Scene cuts to Mark on the screen sitting with Walker.

Walker: So, after that exciting start, what do you attribute your success to?

Mark has a slight smile.

Mark: I don’t put it just down to one thing. I was well financed early on which allowed me to get it out there more. I guess the main reason though is the fact that this story has something for everyone. You can relate to nearly every character and that’s important when you want to escape into something. I tried to give people something that they could step into, that they could feed this story into their own world. That they could be the ones fighting for a greater cause.

Walker: Must help when most authors don’t look like you do.

Mark blushes.
Mark: Stop it.

Mark sits up straighter.

Mark: It can’t be denied that my youth has had an effect. Not many authors get welcomed onto shows like this. I just hope that my use of social media and really coming from an ordinary back ground will get young people more involved in literature cause it really is just a pure art, an art that at times can transport you like no television or film ever could. When you read its personal and art should be personal.

Scene cuts back to David and Abi.

David: That’s what I mean Kid.

Abi: he just inspires you doesn’t he?

David: That’s the spark that I am after.

Scene cuts back to Mark again.

Walker: A nice sentiment but it can’t be denied that your story hasn’t caused controversy. Your first novel faced a boycott by some young mental health groups and then there was that…Mark cuts her off.

Mark: if you are going to start about those online forums threatening to kill themselves over my story, then I think we should end the interview now.

Walker: But someone did kill themselves over your story.

Mark: Allegedly he wrote some stuff

Walker: And he killed five other people as well.

Slight pause. Mark’s eyes go cold and a small smile creeps onto his face.

Mark: This is the misconceptions made by the media about this type of incident. To attribute the deaths of those innocent people to myself is disgusting and damn right offensive to them. There is a serious underlying social issue which relates to the isolation and loss of masculinity for a certain group of young people. Instead of trying to solve these issues they decide to blame someone like me because what politician ever got elected saying he wanted to do something to benefit the lives of young men.

Cut to show Anni shaking her head. Cuts back to Mark
Walker: Be that as it may

Mark: Listen. The reason people yelled at me for this thing was because they don’t understand what it means to be a part of the involuntarily celibate movement. It doesn’t make good news unless it’s to demonize someone like me. If my story was about islamists terrorism and shortly after release a bombing happened. Do you honestly believe my name would have been mentioned once?

Walker looks stunned? Cuts back to David.

David: Good answer Kid.

In the background
Walker: I think that’s time for a break.

Abi stands up.

Abi: I’m going to finish dinner

David stands up with her. Abi begins to cough.

David: Still got that cold?

Abi: Struggling to shake it.

David grabs the wine from the table and then hands it over to Abi. She takes a sip out of it. Then she looks at David.
Abi: You look tired.

David: This is it. This is my last chance at getting something out into the world, if it doesn’t happen now, then I may just go back to working in a shop.

Abi: The next thing you work on will change the lives of millions.

Abi puts her fork into the food, blows on it and then feeds it to David. He smiles.

David: OH yeah that’s good.

He turns around.

David: Let me know when it is ready, I’m going to read some more of this script.

End scene

Mark is stood in a room while Anni sorts out his tie.

Anni: So they are going to ask you questions about the first book, about how you came up with the idea and how Peter came to fund it.

Mark: I better come up with a better story than I was sat in my room and decided to write a book then.

Anni laughs as she straightens his collar.

Anni: Yeah just a little bit more exciting than that. How about on the toilet?

Mark: I really don’t need to put that idea into people’s heads.

She steps back and then grabs some notes.

Anni: Then they are going to ask you about your rise to fame before finishing the interview with a small talk about the next book.

Mark grabs some coffee and takes a sip out of it.

Mark: Sounds good.

Anni: There is a small chance that they may ask you about your political commentary but Kevin has told me to tell you, that nobody wants to hear it.

Mark: I’m known for my wit and political knowledge.

Anni: yeah but the people who watch this show don’t care about politics.

Mark: Actually the forty year old women who watch this show are probably the most active voters.

Anni nods.

Anni: Yeah but they aren’t watching you for that.

Mark: It’s my charm isn’t it?

Anni: Actually I just think they want to mother you.

Mark puts down the coffee.

Mark: So no political conversation. Anything else before I disappear?

Anni: yeah, afterwards Kevin asked that you speak to a journalist for the Sunday mirror.

Mark: Seriously?

Anni smiles devilishly.

Anni: Seriously, you will want to take this interview.

Mark looks fed up.

Mark: Okay then.

Mark goes to leave but stops.

Mark: Who am I on with again?

Anni goes all gooey eyed.
Anni: Andrew Johnson

Mark raises his eyebrow

Mark: That young soap actor?

Anni: Yeah

Mark turns away

Mark: Okay I will pretend that I know who he is.

Anni: Get me his autograph?

Mark: See you later

Mark opens the door and leaves.

Camera follows him out as he walks towards the green room, he nods and smiles at a few people before walking into the green room. Andrew is in there watching racing on his phone. He looks stressed.

Mark: How you doing?

Andrew looks up he smiles and then stands as Mark walks up to him.

Mark: Mark Wilson

They shake hands

Mark: Your Andrew right?

Andrew: So they tell me.

The door opens and they look towards it. A young girl is stood in the door.

Lucy: Ah Mr Wilson you’re here, is there anything I can get you?

Mark leans back and smiles.

Mark: No I’m fine thank you?

Andrew smiles and shakes his head.
Lucy: Lucy

Lucy smiles back at Mark.

Lucy: I will get you when we are ready.

Mark: Thank you Lucy.

Lucy leaves and shuts the door. Andrew laughs.

Andrew: I used to remember when I could do that.

Mark looks at him strangely.

Mark: Do what?

Andrew: Stand there and turn on the charm for the assistants.

Mark nods and looks down.

Mark: What are you watching?

Andrew: Just a bit of horseracing.

Mark: Fair enough

Andrew: You watch it?

Mark: Not really, I’ve never got into it.

Andrew: Why is that?

Mark: My parents are strict catholic they don’t like gambling, plus the press criticise me enough as it is without adding gambling to the mix.

Andrew: I know what that’s like


Mark: Oh yeah, I remember about all of that.

Andrew looks confused.

Andrew: You remember?

Mark waves it away.
Mark: My sister Anni was a great fan of Cooper street, when she was younger.

Andrew: And you weren’t?

Mark: I was more into political commentary and yelling at the news.

Andrew: Sounds exciting.

Mark: Got me where I am today.

Andrew: Tell me about it

An awkward silence follows.

Mark: So what are you doing now?

Andrew looks down.

Andrew: Nothing of worth, only got a slot on here because I did a charity gig the other week. Can’t get my face on anything at the moment.

Mark stops leaning on the wall and looks hard at Andrew.

Mark: Seriously why is that?

Andrew: Well

The door opens cutting Andrew off. Lucy is stood in the doorway?

Lucy: Mr Wilson, they are ready for you.

Mark looks over at Andrew and then back up at Lucy and smiles

Mark: Okay then, let’s do this.