"Being Human" Episode 1 SHOOTING SCRIPT 17th September 2008 - being human script writers (short story to read txt) 📗

WOODS. EVENING 1. 18:14. 30
George scrambles down a bank to a dried up river bed. This
will do. He turns. Two men, locked in an embrace, are
staring at him.
GEORGE
Oh for fu - Sorry, sorry.
He turns and flees.
31 EXT. WOODS. EVENING 1. 18:17. 31
A man doing Tai Chi. Behind him, George sprints past from
one side of the frame to the other.
GEORGE
Haven’t you people got homes...!
The man turns. No one there.
32 EXT. WOODS. EVENING 1. 18:21. 32
Another clearing. This time, mercifully deserted. George
tries to catch his breath. He starts to pull his shirt off.
VOICE
George Sands.
George spins around. All he can see in the fading daylight
is the silhouette of a man, maybe 20 yards away. A thick
dark shape in the gathering gloom.
VOICE (CONT’D)
Cutting it a bit fine, aren’t
you, George?
George is speechless. Frozen with shock. The figure takes a
step towards George. It breaks the spell and George
scrambles back into the woods.
"Being Human" Episode 1 SHOOTING SCRIPT 17th September 2008 18.
(CONTINUED)
33 EXT. WOODS. EVENING 1. 18:24. 33
George stumbles through the undergrowth. It’s like he’s
running for his life.
34 INT. MITCHELL’S CAR. EVENING 1. 18:27. 34
Mitchell peers out of the window. There’s George. Pounding
back towards the car. He yanks open the door, scrambles in.
GEORGE
No, you’re right, let’s go back
to the house.
MITCHELL
What?
GEORGE
Like you said, it’s safer there.
Mitchell is too stunned to move.
GEORGE (CONT’D)
So can we go? Like, now?
Mitchell isn’t going to argue. He starts the car and speeds
off. George looks back at the woods. It’s as if he can
still feel that shadowy figure watching him.
35 INT. THE HOUSE. LIVING ROOM / KITCHEN. EVENING 1. 18:47. 35
Annie is in the kitchen, pouring hot water into a line of
mugs. Suddenly the front door bursts open and George and
Mitchell pile in. Annie walks through to the living room.
ANNIE
Alright, George? What are you
doing back? I thought it was your
time of the month.
MITCHELL
It is. He’s doing it here.
ANNIE
But I’ve just hoovered!
MITCHELL
George, what do you need?
George is shifting furniture, clearing a space in the
centre of the room.
"Being Human" Episode 1 SHOOTING SCRIPT 17th September 2008 19.
32 CONTINUED: 32
(CONTINUED)
GEORGE
Uh, close the curtains so it *
can’t see any windows. And put *
some music on. Loud.
MITCHELL
Good idea. We’ll say there’s a
party going on.
(the music)
Annie.
Annie is being propelled along by events and the boy’s
frenzy. She fumbles with the CD player while Mitchell runs
around, yanking the curtains closed.
MITCHELL (CONT’D)
Anything you don’t want broken,
put in your room.
ANNIE
What do we do while he’s doing
his thing?
MITCHELL
Get the hell out.
ANNIE
Can I watch?
Everything stops. Mitchell and George stare at Annie.
ANNIE (CONT’D)
Just for a bit. I want to see
what happens.
GEORGE
This isn’t like when you’re a
kid, watching your cat have
kittens. It’s private.
ANNIE
You’ve seen me since I died. I
think the rules about privacy
have got a bit muddy.
George looks to Mitchell. This can’t be happening.
ANNIE (CONT’D)
Please, George. It’s not like you
can hurt me.
MITCHELL
Maybe she should. This is what I
mean. It’s part of you.
George shakes his head. What the hell. Everyone is crazy.
"Being Human" Episode 1 SHOOTING SCRIPT 17th September 2008 20.
35 CONTINUED: 35
(CONTINUED)
GEORGE
Keep to the kitchen. Stay out of
its line of vision. If it sees
you, I don’t know what it’ll do.
A shudder runs through him.
GEORGE (CONT’D)
It’s coming.
36 EXT. THE HOUSE. EVENING 1. 18:49. 36
Mitchell steps outside. Music starts thumping dully through
the walls. At least the soundproofing is pretty good.
Mitchell locks the front door.
37 INT. THE HOUSE. LIVING ROOM. EVENING 1. 18:59. 37
Annie is in the kitchen, looking at George through the
serving hatch. George has stripped. He just stands there
shivering, his hands over his groin. The atmosphere is
tense and tight as a drum. But oddly awkward too. Despite
the pounding music. There’s nothing to do but wait.
ANNIE
(making conversation)
I see someone’s finally moved
into number 18 -
Suddenly George screams and jackknifes. It makes Annie gasp
and stumble backwards.
38 EXT. THE HOUSE. EVENING 1. 19:24. 38
Mitchell is sat ion the doorstep. Now, just audible under
the throb of the music, are George’s screams. It makes
Mitchell wince and shudder.
39 INT. THE HOUSE. EVENING 1. 19:39. 39
From the expression on Annie’s face, the transformation has
obviously taken hold. We hear George screams as the curse
thunders through him.
From the kitchen, Annie watches. Hypnotized, but horrified.
It’s awful to watch every shred of George’s humanity torn
so painfully away. She screws her eyes shut.
"Being Human" Episode 1 SHOOTING SCRIPT 17th September 2008 21.
35 CONTINUED: (2) 35
40 EXT. THE HOUSE. NIGHT 1. 19:42. 40
Mitchell flinches at the roar from inside. He turns and
Annie is sitting on the step next to him. She looks
distressed and pale. Even more than usual.
ANNIE
He’s gone.
Mitchell says nothing. He settles back against the door,
getting comfy for the long night ahead of them. Annie sits,
hunched and shaken. Through the walls, the dull pulse of
the music and, if you listen really hard, the roars and
howls of a monster.
41 EXT. SKYLINE. MORNING 2. 06:52. 41
The sun peeps over the rooftops. The world stirs and wakes.
42 INT. THE HOUSE. LIVING ROOM. MORNING 2. 06:53. 42
The front door eases open and Mitchell and Annie peer in.
Imagine the aftermath of the biggest wildest party in the
world, then throw a hand grenade into that. What’s left
wouldn’t look dissimilar to the living room now. Everything
is upside down. Some of the furniture has been atomized.
Even the wallpaper is shredded. And lying amid the
wreckage, naked and unconscious, is George.
43 CUT. 43
44 INT. THE HOUSE. LIVING ROOM. MORNING 2. 09:57. 44
Later. Dressed now, George comes down the stairs. He stops
and stares. Mitchell and Annie have cleared all the
wreckage out of the living room, leaving it cavernous and
echoing. George looks around. They’ve lost so much.
GEORGE
My God. What did it do?
MITCHELL
We’ve salvaged what we can. But
there’s about 10 bin bags of crap
and wreckage stashed in my
bedroom. I’m sensing a trip to
Ikea. And you know my feelings
about that.
"Being Human" Episode 1 SHOOTING SCRIPT 17th September 2008 22.
(CONTINUED)
GEORGE
Look, why don’t you two go out.
Leave the rest to me. It’s the
least I can do.
Mitchell and Annie exchange glances. Mitchell rolls his
eyes. Annie tries not to literally squeal with excitement.
ANNIE
Owen rang.
GEORGE
Owen who?
ANNIE
Your landlord! My fiancée Ex- *
fiancee. He’s coming over. *
MITCHELL
(looks at his watch)
In about... Now.
GEORGE
He’s coming here? Why?
MITCHELL
He’s over from Saudi for a few
months and wants to meet us.
ANNIE
You’re the longest staying
tenants he’s ever had.
(proudly)
The others all found the place
strangely unwelcoming.
MITCHELL
You’re like one of the villains
in Scooby Doo, scaring people
away from the deserted funfair.
ANNIE
I’d have got away with it too if
it weren’t for you meddling kids.
George gestures around at the conspicuously empty room.
GEORGE
Why didn’t you put him off?!
MITCHELL
I tried. But she kicked me in the
shin. The shin, George.
ANNIE
I haven’t seen him for 2 years,
and there you were giving it all - *
"Being Human" Episode 1 SHOOTING SCRIPT 17th September 2008 23.
44 CONTINUED: 44
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
(appalling Irish
accent)
“It’s not really convenient.”
MITCHELL
So I’m French now?
GEORGE
Sorry, can we focus? You don’t
mean you’re going to be here when
he arrives?
ANNIE
Of course! I mean, I’ll hide
obviously, he won’t see me.
Annie hands Mitchell a little note pad.
ANNIE (CONT’D)
Now then. I’ve written a list of
questions for you to ask him.
MITCHELL
“Are you screwing Janey Harris?”
ANNIE
Always fancied Owen. When I died,
believe me if she’d known she
would have been here before the
ambulance crew.
MITCHELL
“Has my sister had a baby?”
ANNIE
They’ve been trying for ages. I
blame her husband. He’s called
Robin and works for the Post
Office.
GEORGE
Oh my God, has everyone taken
Stupid Pills? This is Annie’s ex
we’re talking about. Annie’s ex
who buried her. She can’t be
here, she can’t be within ten
miles of here.
ANNIE
I can’t have him in the house and
not see him. Christ’s sake, we *
were engaged. *
GEORGE
Can you imagine what will happen
if he sees you?
"Being Human" Episode 1 SHOOTING SCRIPT 17th September 2008 24.
44 CONTINUED: (2) 44
ANNIE (CONT'D)
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
The effect it’ll have on him, the
danger it’ll put us all in.
Annie faces George. Arms folded.
ANNIE
This isn’t about our safety. This
is about you. You lost your
lover, so can’t bear the thought
of me seeing mine.
GEORGE
(splutters, appalled)
That’s... that’s totally...
MITCHELL
Ok, look, as long as she stays
upstairs, what’s the worst that
can happen?
GEORGE
I’ll remind you of that as the
crowds gather outside with
torches and pitchforks. No, I’m
sorry, but we have to protect the
household.
ANNIE
This isn’t a good time to take
the moral highground, George. You
just smashed up the household.
She has a point. George fidgets. Mutters.
GEORGE
It wasn’t me...
The doorbell rings.
MITCHELL
Well. That’s that settled. Annie.
ANNIE
Yeah yeah, I know. Remember:
Janey Harris.
GEORGE
Crazy... You are all crazy... *
Annie clomps upstairs. Mitchell looks to George - ready?
George shrugs. Whatever. Mitchell reaches for the door.
GEORGE (CONT’D)
Oo! Ask him about the clanky tap.
No, I will. In fact, leave all
the talking to me.
"Being Human" Episode 1 SHOOTING SCRIPT 17th September 2008 25.
44 CONTINUED: (3) 44
GEORGE (CONT'D)
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
Remember, we’re just two guys
renting a house, the most natural
thing in the world. We just have
to be totally and completely
normal.
MITCHELL
Yeah, good luck with that.
Mitchell opens the door.
45 INT. THE HOUSE. UPSTAIRS LANDING. MORNING 2. 10:01. 45
Voices from downstairs as Mitchell lets Owen in. Annie
creeps as close as she can to the top of the stairs without
actually tumbling down them.
46 INT. THE HOUSE. LIVING ROOM. MORNING 2. 10:01. 46
MITCHELL
- and this is George.
OWEN
Hi, how are you?
GEORGE
Yes.
OWEN
Where’s all the furniture?
GEORGE
Um. We decided we wanted a more,
uh, minimalist lifestyle. It’s so
easy to get seduced by all the
clutter and debris of 21st
century living. To think having
this sofa or that, uh, chair will
bring you happiness when, really,
shouldn’t we be striving for
something more spiritual? More...
zen?
OWEN
Oh. I thought maybe you were
going to redecorate and didn’t
want to get the furniture all
painty.
GEORGE
(beat)
Yes, that would have made more
sense.
"Being Human" Episode 1 SHOOTING SCRIPT 17th September 2008 26.
44 CONTINUED: (4) 44
GEORGE (CONT’D)
(CONTINUED)
A sound from upstairs. George and Mitchell stare at each
other, eyes wide.
MITCHELL
George, why don’t you go and see
what that was.
George scurries upstairs.
MITCHELL (CONT’D)
Can I get you a drink, Owen? Tea,
coffee, there’s a couple of beers
in the fridge.
OWEN
Actually I wouldn’t mind a beer.
I think I’m still on Saudi time.
47 INT. THE HOUSE. UPSTAIRS LANDING. MORNING 2. 10:02. 47
George finds Annie, still skulking on the landing.
GEORGE
(hisses)
What are you doing? We can hear
you!
ANNIE
(hisses)
I just want to see him. I can
sneak down, I can hide.
GEORGE
Are