Category: Episode 2

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.”