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

you CRAZY? He’ll see you
and... and die of shock!
Annie brightens - even better!
GEORGE (CONT’D)
That. Is not. An option.
48 INT. THE HOUSE. LIVING ROOM. MORNING 2. 10:03. 48
Mitchell re-enters the living room from the kitchen, hands
Owen a beer.
MITCHELL
Most of the time it’s fine. You
just let it run and eventually
the water comes through. But it’s
kind of driving George nuts.
"Being Human" Episode 1 SHOOTING SCRIPT 17th September 2008 27.
46 CONTINUED: 46
(CONTINUED)
OWEN
No worries. I’ll take a look.
Like I said, it’s such a relief
having you guys here.
Mitchell and Owen look around. There’s nowhere to sit but a
couple of upturned boxes.
OWEN (CONT’D)
It didn’t work out with the last
lot of people - oh cheers.
(they clink)
I think they heard about what
happened and let their
imaginations run away with them.
(drinks)
You... know? About my fiancée. *
MITCHELL
A little. Just what the estate
agent said.
OWEN
I’ve hardly been back since. You
can imagine, it’s still kind of
weird being here.
Mitchell lowers his voice, aware of Annie upstairs.
MITCHELL
What happened exactly? If you
don’t mind me asking.
OWEN
We’d literally just moved in, we
were still living out of boxes.
It was dark, I hadn’t sorted out
the wiring yet. She was at the
top of the stairs and... They
said she must have fallen
awkwardly.
MITCHELL
What was she like?
Owen is a little taken aback by the question. But something
about Mitchell, his calm assurance, makes Owen open up.
OWEN
Annie? She was... extraordinary.
She was kind. And funny. Cleverer
than she thought she was...
(a sad smile)
And she was mine.
"Being Human" Episode 1 SHOOTING SCRIPT 17th September 2008 28.
48 CONTINUED: 48
(CONTINUED)
MITCHELL
(beat)
I believe people can leave an
echo, in a place where they were.
I know the tennants before us
said they could detect something.
Maybe that’s what it was.
OWEN
They said it was creepy.
MITCHELL
It’s not, it’s not creepy. It’s
good. It’s happy. We like it.
Owen drinks. He nods. Thank you. George comes downstairs.
OWEN
What was it?
GEORGE
What? Oh a... pigeon.
OWEN
A pigeon?
GEORGE
Must have left a window open.
OWEN
Have you got rid of it?
GEORGE
(beat)
I killed it.
MITCHELL
You killed it?
GEORGE
With a shoe.
Mitchell is positioned behind Owen. He throws his arms up
in surrender - Ok, that’s it, I give up.
OWEN
You know what? I should... I
should be going.
MITCHELL
(jumps up)
It was lovely to meet you. Like I
said, it’s great, we’re really
happy here.
"Being Human" Episode 1 SHOOTING SCRIPT 17th September 2008 29.
48 CONTINUED: (2) 48
49 INT. THE HOUSE. UPSTAIRS LANDING. MORNING 2. 10:06. 49
Annie peeps around the corner, down the stairs. She can
just about see Owen’s feet and legs.
OWEN (O.S.)
Thanks for the drink. Any
problems, you’ve got my number.
MITCHELL (O.S.)
Cool. Lovely to meet you.
50 INT. THE HOUSE. LIVING ROOM. MORNING 2. 10:07. 50
Mitchell closes the door and turns to George.
MITCHELL
How’d you do that, stay so calm?
GEORGE
Ok, shut up.
MITCHELL
You’re a spy, aren’t you. I mean
you’ve clearly had training.
Because the way you held it
together there, it was chilling.
Annie has walked down from upstairs. Mitchell and George
watch her nervously, as if she might shatter into a
thousand pieces at any moment.
MITCHELL (CONT’D)
He loved you very much, Annie.
The way he talked about you...
You made him very happy.
GEORGE
(beat)
Did you ask about the tap?
Mitchell turns imploringly to George - PLEASE stop talking.
ANNIE
Is this his?
MITCHELL
What?
ANNIE
This bottle. Was it his?
MITCHELL
Yeah.
"Being Human" Episode 1 SHOOTING SCRIPT 17th September 2008 30.
(CONTINUED)
Annie picks up Owen's beer bottle. Touches the rim to her
lips. Her lips to his.
51 EXT. THE HOSPITAL. EVENING 2. 19:54. 51
Establishing shot. The entrance to the hospital. Dribs and
drabs of people going in and out of the hospital. Late
visitors and the night shift arriving.
52 INT. HOSPITAL. CANTEEN. EVENING 2. 19:55. 52
The first thing Mitchell sees when he enters the canteen is
the crowd of nurses, doctors and porters, gathered around a
table, laughing and clapping. He frowns, what’s going on?
He draws nearer and his face drops. There at heart of the
crowd is Herrick. One of the vampire officers from the
World War 1 battlefield.
But this time, we see that Herrick is a policeman.
He’s performing some coin tricks. The crowd lap it up.
HERRICK
Now watch. You’re not watching.
Cries of ‘We are! We are!’
Herrick holds a coin between his thumb and forefinger. A
flutter of hands. The coin is gone. Some ‘Ooohs’ from the
crowd. Herrick sweeps his hand across the table, and a
shower of coins clatter and bounce from his palm.
Squeals and applause from the crowd.
Herrick watches as some of them scrabble around the table
and chairs for the coins, his expression a mixture of
curiosity and detachment.
He looks up and spots Mitchell watching from the sidelines.
HERRICK (CONT’D)
Ah, sorry, guys. There’s my
friend.
Cries of ‘No!’ ‘Don’t go!’ Herrick laughs.
HERRICK (CONT’D)
Will you stop? Another time, I
promise.
Herrick and Mitchell watch the crowd disperse, chattering
happily about the little show.
"Being Human" Episode 1 SHOOTING SCRIPT 17th September 2008 31.
50 CONTINUED: 50
(CONTINUED)
MITCHELL
You didn’t get my message? This
isn’t your fucking larder,
Herrick.
HERRICK
A social call, nothing more.
We’re worried about you.
MITCHELL
We’re meant to keep a low
profile. Coming here, attacking
people in their sleep, that’s not
how we work.
HERRICK
Attacking people in their sleep?
Who’s attacking people in their
sleep?
MITCHELL
Seth said -
HERRICK
“Seth said”. Listen. There’s
something you need to know about
Seth.
Herrick puts his hand on Mitchell’s shoulder, steeling
himself as if about to break terrible news.
HERRICK (CONT’D)
He’s an idiot.
Herrick laughs, pats his shoulder - come on - and strolls
over to the counter. Mitchell follows.
HERRICK (CONT’D)
But it makes you think, doesn’t
it. These rules about what we can
and cannot do. For instance,
here’s a thought: suppose the
world knew of our existence.
Suppose they had a choice...
Behind the counter is a young girl, maybe 19. Gauche.
Braces. Spots.
HERRICK (CONT’D)
You do Hot Chocolate?
The girl nods. Herrick turns to Mitchell - you want
anything? Mitchell shakes his head.
HERRICK (CONT’D)
One Hot Chocolate.
"Being Human" Episode 1 SHOOTING SCRIPT 17th September 2008 32.
52 CONTINUED: 52
(CONTINUED)
The girl starts to make his hot chocolate.
HERRICK (CONT’D)
What time did you start?
GIRL
Uh, 2?
HERRICK
Oo, long shift. Who do you get in
here mostly, this time of night?
GIRL
Staff mainly. Though we get
parents too, of the kids in the
children’s ward. You can tell
them a mile off. They take it in
turns and they come in and they
order coffee but they don’t drink
it.
HERRICK
Well. I’m sure they appreciate
what you do.
He hands her the money. She shyly waves it away.
GIRL
Actually. It’s fine.
HERRICK
Well you’re very kind. Take it
easy.
He and Mitchell walk away, towards the doors.
MITCHELL
(re. the girl)
What was that? More tricks?
HERRICK
No. Manners.
53 INT. THE HOSPITAL. CORRIDOR. NIGHT 2. 19:56. 53
Herrick and Mitchell emerge into a corridor
MITCHELL
So we declare ourselves. And what
then? Start a mass conversion?
"Being Human" Episode 1 SHOOTING SCRIPT 17th September 2008 33.
52 CONTINUED: (2) 52
(CONTINUED)
HERRICK
Whoa, whoa, one step at a time...
Buuuuut, that’s exactly the kind
of left-field thinking we need
right now.
MITCHELL
And those that refuse?
HERRICK
As I recall you welcomed me with
open arms.
(sips his chocolate)
This is horrible. Taste it.
MITCHELL *
To save the lives of my men. *
HERRICK *
Yeah, how noble of you to take on *
the curse of immortality so your *
friends could wither and decay in *
hospitals and old people’s homes. *
Herrick laughs, gives Mitchell’s arm a good-natured slap. *
HERRICK (CONT’D) *
I’m kidding. I’m teasing you. *
*
54 INT. THE HOSPITAL. RECEPTION. NIGHT 2. 20:02. 54
Herrick strolls through to the reception area. Mitchell
skulking uncomfortably by his side.
HERRICK
But I’m willing to bet, you offer
people eternal life, not just for
them but their lovers and
children, and the queues would
stretch a thousand miles!
He leans in closer, his voice is barely a whisper. *
HERRICK (CONT’D)
Let’s go up to the children’s
ward. Those parents she was
taking about, you think a single
one of them would turn us away? *
(grins) *
You’ve thought about it, haven’t
you.
Mitchell recoils. But not from disgust. Herrick’s eyes are *
blazing with urgency. *
"Being Human" Episode 1 SHOOTING SCRIPT 17th September 2008 34.
53 CONTINUED: 53
(CONTINUED)
HERRICK (CONT’D) *
They had their chance. We left *
them to tend this paradise, this *
Eden, and look what they did. *
MITCHELL *
You know what I don’t understand?
This interest in me. *
HERRICK *
Look. If things were to change, *
having you by my side, like it
was, back in the day, it would...
People admire you! I admire you. *
Despite your eccentricities.
MITCHELL
My eccentricities?
HERRICK
Yeah. I mean -
(picks at his
uniform)
- we all have to play a part. But
you... It’s like you like it.
Plus now everyone says you're On
The Wagon.
MITCHELL
I wouldn’t expect you to
understand.
HERRICK
Good. I don’t. It’s mental.
You’re a shark: be a shark.
Besides, I’m sure you’ve got some
fall-backs in place...
MITCHELL
Fall-backs?
HERRICK
Someone you’ve been grooming. So
when eventually you do fall off
the wagon, you won't have far to
drop.
A crackle of static and voices over his radio.
HERRICK (CONT’D)
I gotta go. Everything’s about to
change, and nothing can stop it.
This is nature, it’s tectonic
plates shifting. And the only
thing, the only thing you and me
get to choose, is what side we’re
on when it happens.
"Being Human" Episode 1 SHOOTING SCRIPT 17th September 2008 35.
54 CONTINUED: 54
(CONTINUED)
Mitchell says nothing.
HERRICK (CONT’D)
Something to ponder.
Herrick smiles and his eyes scorch black - just for a
second. He turns and strolls away. Mitchell doesn’t move.
55 INT. THE HOSPITAL. CORRIDOR. MORNING 3. 09:34. 55
The next morning. George is sorting through a linen
cupboard, piling stuff into Mitchell’s arms.
GEORGE
Listen, I’m going to that thing
later. The memorial thing, for
Lauren. You want to come?
MITCHELL
Um, I don’t know...
GEORGE
Come on, it’ll be nice. Well, not
‘nice’ so much as... ‘horrible’.
I thought you were friends.
MITCHELL
Not really. A bit. Towards the
end.
VOICE
George.
It makes him jump. He spins around. But it’s Becca.
BECCA
Hiya. Little jumpy, aren’t you?
GEORGE
Yeah... sorry... Hi.
BECCA
I need three pillow-cases.
(to Mitchell)
Mrs Nixon just vommed her
Fisherman’s Pie.
MITCHELL
Thank you for sharing.
George hands the pillow cases to Becca.
GEORGE
You’ve changed your shampoo. It’s
minty. Normally you’re vanillary.
"Being Human" Episode 1 SHOOTING SCRIPT 17th September 2008 36.
54 CONTINUED: (2) 54
(CONTINUED)
BECCA
How did you know that?!
GEORGE
I’ve just got a good sense of
smell.
BECCA
You like it?
GEORGE
Yes, you smell like a Polo.
They laugh.
GEORGE (CONT’D)
Have you got a hole?
And the laughter dies. George winces. Mitchell stuffs a
pillow case in his mouth. Becca just blinks, disconcerted.
BECCA
I’ll, uh, see you later, yeah?
Becca walks on. Mitchell turns to George.
MITCHELL
Shit, are you interested in her?
GEORGE
No. I don’t know. Why, are you?
MITCHELL
Me? God, no. I mean, she’s nice,
but if you're interested in her,
I'll - because it's