It's not that great - re-reading the beginning I'd probably get the action going much quicker now if I rewrote this - but I actually did a lot of research on the 1920's for this script, and spent quite a bit of time on it, so despite it not going anywhere I guess it was good practise for future scripts.
Anyway, I thought I'd share some on the blog since I've been so busy and uninspired to write, which has meant I haven't written a proper post or review in ages. I hope this bridges the gap and makes up for it a bit - and its a bit of fun for all the Doctor Who fans out there!
EXT. CITY STREET: DAY
March 1925 - a busy high street.
A fashionably dressed girl on a bicycle LOUISE ’LULU’ HEATLEY (26), in a cloche brakes in front of a cafe.
She locks up the bicycle and goes inside.
CUT TO:
INT. CAFE, UPSTAIRS DINING-ROOM: DAY
Lulu dodges round the tables and the waitresses to a table by the window where EDITH MARSH (25) is lounging, as she fiddles with a cigarette case whilst talking idly to DENIS BARNES (27), who is picking a slice of lemon out his gin and tonic.
LULU
Am I late?
Am I late?
EDITH
No, no, you’re on time actually. I ordered a pot of tea for us to share.
No, no, you’re on time actually. I ordered a pot of tea for us to share.
LULU
Oh, merci.
Oh, merci.
Lulu pulls up a seat, putting down a bag and a green hardback volume of Vasari’s Lives. She pushes a pair of round glasses up her nose, and begins to pour herself a cup of tea.
LULU
Do we know when the train goes?
Do we know when the train goes?
DENIS
Four.
Four.
LULU
Good. I’ll have time to fetch my luggage from home. I’ve been really looking forward to seeing you two, and going on this sojourn to London.
Good. I’ll have time to fetch my luggage from home. I’ve been really looking forward to seeing you two, and going on this sojourn to London.
EDITH
Me too, dear. Wait til I show you
Me too, dear. Wait til I show you
my rooms, I’ve had them decorated. And we must go and see that
new play, the Vortex.
DENIS
And that new dance club. But let’s eat first, shall we?
And that new dance club. But let’s eat first, shall we?
Denis picks up a menu.
LULU
Yes, I’m as hungry as a wolf.
Yes, I’m as hungry as a wolf.
CUT TO:
EXT. FACTORY YARD: DAY
An abandoned factory yard, walled in, with a rusty gate hanging loose.
A couple of workmen are walking beside the wall. MAURICE SIMMONS, 42, with a slight limp, pushing a bike, and BILL WALKER, 25, with a burn mark on his face.
They pause by the gates and look up at the factory. A cloud of black is rising from one of the old chimneys.
BILL
Hey, there’s smoke rising from over there. Has that factory re-opened?
Hey, there’s smoke rising from over there. Has that factory re-opened?
MAURICE
Don’t think so. (beat) It’s probably just a load of homeless people in there.
Don’t think so. (beat) It’s probably just a load of homeless people in there.
The smoke tails off.
MAURICE CONT’D
Come on, we need to get a move on. We can cut through here.
Come on, we need to get a move on. We can cut through here.
BILL
Isn’t it shorter through town?
Isn’t it shorter through town?
MAURICE
Nah, trust me. I used to work round here before they started making tanks.
Nah, trust me. I used to work round here before they started making tanks.
Maurice opens the gates and they walk through.
CUT TO:
INT. CAFE, UPSTAIRS DINING ROOM: DAY
The table is covered in the remnants of luncheon.
EDITH
What now? We still have a couple of hours.
What now? We still have a couple of hours.
DENIS
There’s the pictures I suppose. I mean, there’s not much else down here to do, is there? It’s all rather industrial and rural...
There’s the pictures I suppose. I mean, there’s not much else down here to do, is there? It’s all rather industrial and rural...
EDITH
Good idea. What’s showing?
Good idea. What’s showing?
DENIS
I don’t know.
I don’t know.
LULU
Take a look in the paper, theyalways have cinema listings.
Take a look in the paper, theyalways have cinema listings.
DENIS
I never buy local papers.
I never buy local papers.
EDITH
Ask to borrow someone’s then.
Ask to borrow someone’s then.
Lulu frowns. They look about the cafe. There are well-dressed ladies drinking delicately. A young couple smoking and flirting near the staircase. A pair of imposing looking older men are talking gruffly
about business.
And...sat alone at the table is a MAN in eccentric attire with his feet up on a chair, fiddling with what looks like a manual egg whisk.
His table is a jumble of stuff - a book in a foreign language, cups, plates with half eaten toast and scones, pots of jam, a pot of tea, a newspaper and several bits of wire.
LULU
Voila. Go on Denis.
Voila. Go on Denis.
DENIS(pulls face)
Ask him?
Ask him?
LULU
Why not?
Why not?
EDITH
Look at his table. He looks a bit odd.
Look at his table. He looks a bit odd.
DENIS
He is odd. I saw him stirring butter into his tea just before you arrived.
He is odd. I saw him stirring butter into his tea just before you arrived.
LULU
So?
So?
DENIS
So I’m not talking to him.
So I’m not talking to him.
LULU
Fine. I’ll go.
Fine. I’ll go.
She gets up and walks over, faltering by the table for a moment.
LULU(shyly)
Excuse me?
Excuse me?
The man doesn’t look up.
DOCTOR
Black coffee with two sugars and a slice of lime, and are you sure you don’t have any...
Black coffee with two sugars and a slice of lime, and are you sure you don’t have any...
The man looks up.
DOCTOR
Oh, (big smile) g’day.
Oh, (big smile) g’day.
LULU
Good afternoon. Sorry to disturb you, but I was wondering if I might borrow your newspaper? I want to check the listings for the movies.
Good afternoon. Sorry to disturb you, but I was wondering if I might borrow your newspaper? I want to check the listings for the movies.
DOCTOR
Ah, good old silent movies.
Ah, good old silent movies.
He pulls the paper out from under a pile of plates, and hands it to her.
DOCTOR
Who’s your favourite? Buster Keaton, Lilian Gish, Charlie Chaplin...
Who’s your favourite? Buster Keaton, Lilian Gish, Charlie Chaplin...
LULU
Max Linder. I used to watch his movies when I was a child in Paris.
Max Linder. I used to watch his movies when I was a child in Paris.
DOCTOR
Really? You don’t sound Parisian?
Really? You don’t sound Parisian?
LULU
Oh, don’t be put off by my accent. I was born there, but my father was English, and we moved here when I was young...
Oh, don’t be put off by my accent. I was born there, but my father was English, and we moved here when I was young...
Note: Original characters copyright KCS, Doctor Who belongs to the BBC.
