Category: Episode 2

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. 

Andrew walks confidently into a betting shop

Customer: Hey Andrew. What’s happening?

Andrew: Not much just thought I would spend some pocket money.

Andrew walks up to the counter where the clerk is waiting.

Clerk: How did your show go?

Andrew: Got to love a good bit of Shakespeare.

Clerk: Better than that soap?

Andrew shrugs.

Andrew: Not as well paid as that soap.

Customer: Hey why don’t you go back into television?

Andrew: Waiting for the right time.

Clerk: What can I do for you?

Andrew pulls out a piece of paper and hands it to the Clerk.

Clerk: Full spread at Exeter, Worcester and Chelmsford. Heavy day don’t you think. Sure, you wouldn’t want to place a few on now and come back before Worcester and Chelmsford start?

Andrew: No, I’ve got an interview later and I will be stuck in the green room for most of the day. Need something to watch

Clerk gives him a concerned glance it gets even more surprising when Andrew hands him a huge amount of Cash.

Clerk: I will have to lay some of these, how do you want it spread?

Andrew: Same amount on them all. I’m feeling lucky.

Clerk: I’ve got a bad feeling in my stomach.

Andrew waits while the tickets are printed. He nervously checks over at the racing on the TV. A coin shaking on his hand. Finally he nods and walks over to a fixed betting machine and begins to play.
End scene

Mark is sat in his office in his apartment, he is editing one of his books.

Mark: ANNI

Anni walks into the room.

Anni: Yeah

Mark: Did Kevin call to let me know the final preparations for the Walker show?

Anni: not yet but I can get hold of him now if you want?

Mark: Thank you.

Anni goes to leave but stops as Mark speaks.

Mark: Anni, when are you going to get a real job?

Anni: As soon as I’ve finished my degree.

Mark laughs

Mark: Yeah that is never going to happen.

The doorbell rings. Anni leaves to go answer it. Mark works as he listens to Anni speak with someone.

Anni: I will see if he is available.

Anni returns looking confused.

Anni: There is a guy here called David Andrews.

Mark looks shocked.

Mark: Really? Let him in

Anni leaves. A few seconds pass and David walks in. Mark stands up and shakes his hand.

Mark: David. This is a surprise, how’s Abi?

Mark and David sit in armchairs.

David: Yeah she’s brilliant.

A slight pause.

Mark: What brings you here?

David: I’ve just read your book its fantastic, I thought I would come by and let ya know I’m really proud of you kid.

Mark smiles.

Mark: Thank you very much. What are you working on now?

David: You remember Peter?

Mark: yeah I speak to him all the time, he financed my first novel.

David: Me and him have gone into business together, looking at starting a small show.

Pause

Mark: Really that’s brilliant, you will do great with it.

David: I didn’t just come here to congratulate you. I was wondering if you wanted to do a bit of screen writing for us.

Mark smiles and looks down.

Mark: David I would love to help you out I really would. You’re a great Director and you don’t deserve the disrespect the industry shows you, but I’ve got so much going on. My next book is set to be an international best seller, I’m going over to America in a

David: I get it.

Mark: I’ve worked hard to get here; don’t you reckon it’s a backwards step doing a bit of screen writing.
David: Mark I get it. I can’t go five minutes without seeing you on my Tv. I just thought. Well I can’t a team together. We are starting small, no network backing. I don’t want to put the drab rubbish you see on Tv today I want to create something special and you know what? There aren’t that many people around with the gifts to do that. I just thought that, well you are one of the best story tellers I know. You write and people just listen.

Mark: Flattering me now?

David: Well it was worth a try.

Mark: Well if I have any ideas I will let you know and I will keep my ear to the ground for any writers I run into.

David nods and stands up. Mark stands and shakes his hand.

David: Peter rates you highly, if you change your mind, we could really do something special with this.

Mark: I will look into it.

David walks out the door and Anni lets him out. Mark sits down and a smile appears on a corner of his mouth.

Anni: What did he want?

Mark: David’s a television director but he got sacked after the network made loads of changes and his show flopped. Now no one will hire him. He’s gone in with Peter who financed my novel. He wants me to do some screen writing.

Anni: You should do it.

Mark: why?

Anni smiles sarcastically

Anni: barely anyone reads books anymore.

Mark: Get out of here.

Mark looks down and then across at his novel that is lying on the desk. He then opens a new document on his computer. He looks up and smiles slowly before typing on his computer. “Scene One.”