Here's scene one of episode three. Might need to give it time. It's been completed for a while but will post in instalments.
FLAT
Episode Three: COURT
Written by
James L Williams
SCENE 1. LIVING ROOM. INT. DAY. (MONDAY)
MATT IS ASLEEP ON THE SOFA. DAVE IS DRESSED, SITTING ON THE ARMCHAIR. ABI IS DRESSED FOR WORK, AND WALKS IN FROM THE KITCHEN WITH A PINT GLASS HALF FILLED WITH COFFEE.
WE HEAR SIRENS. NO RESPONSE FROM ANYONE. JIM ENTERS, DRESSED FOR WORK.
JIM:
Sirens? Going to work Abi?
ABI:
Yes. Ha bloody ha, Jim.
DAVE:
At least you’ve both got jobs to go to.
MATT:
Oh, will you lot pipe down? I’m trying to get some sleep here.
JIM:
You’re always asleep. I slept like a log. No sex noises – have you two had a fight?
MATT:
I don’t want to talk about it Jim.
ABI:
(DRAINING DRINK) Ok guys; Matt. I’m off. Laters. (EXITS)
DAVE:
She seemed a little, er, cagey this morning. She put twice as much Pro Plus in her coffee.
JIM:
She can put barbiturates in her coffee for all I care.
DAVE:
Still, at least she’s got a job to go to.
JIM:
Shut up Dave.
DAVE:
I’m really not sure it’s healthy for me to spend all day here, thinking about it. Maybe I’ll go for a little walk.
JIM:
Maybe you should have done your job properly. Then they wouldn’t have told you you had to go for a walk.
DAVE:
It’s a disciplinary review. It’s not as easy as it looks, being a recruitment consultant. Nobody wanted to take any of the jobs I offered them. In fact most of them were at work when I rang.
JIM:
What were those sirens?
DAVE:
I don’t know – maybe you should have a look. I hope it’s nothing serious.
JIM:
I do. Might be a story. Maybe someone’s died.
JIM LOOKS OUT OF THE CURTAINS
JIM:
Damn, can’t see what’s going on. Someone has to be at least maimed.
DAVE:
I thought you were at the Crown Court today.
MATT:
Eh, your new boss isn’t going to be happy, is he, if you go running off after something else.
JIM:
I’m a reporter, it’s my job. And I can’t be in two places at once. Dave, you’ll have to go.
DAVE:
Eh? Sorry? What?
JIM:
An alien concept: I’m using my initiative. I’ll cover this; you toddle off to court. Now record everything that’s said - everything. No mistakes.
DAVE:
‘No mistakes’: I can’t do that! And I can’t write quickly enough, can I?
JIM:
Walk in, take your ‘phone with you, put it on record and when they’re finished switch it off and ‘phone me.
DAVE:
I thought it was illegal to carry recording equipment into court. Can’t you get sent to prison for that?
JIM:
No. And even if you did, it wouldn’t be for very long. You’ll have to be careful, won’t you?
DAVE:
Why can’t I walk down the road to see what happened?
JIM:
Because that’s real journalism – you have to ask the right questions. Sit in court, record everything - it’s foolproof.
DAVE:
Jim, really, this has got disaster written all over it - in permanent marker. I really can’t do it. And anyway, my ‘phone’s still broken.
MATT:
Hey, you can borrow mine. It’s new, right. It’s got everything. Gadgets, gizmos, camera, voice recorder.
DAVE:
(ANNOYED) Wow, thanks Matt!
Hang on a minute - did you buy this on Ebay?
MATT:
I did actually.
DAVE:
I’m not using it.
MATT:
It works fine.
DAVE:
I thought you only just got it!
JIM:
Take mine if his is no good.
MATT:
Don’t worry! I road-tested it yesterday. Man, you’re a bag of tension, you are.
JIM:
What did this road test involve? Listening to all the ring tones?
MATT:
There’s some good ones actually. Here you are - listen to that! A dripping tap! Probably drive you mad though. (SHOWS DAVE THE MOBILE) Look, that one’s the on/off button, here, right next to the speakerphone button.
JIM:
God knows why you need a mobile ‘phone anyway, Matt. You’re practically agoraphobic. If we nailed your mobile to the fridge you’d answer within two rings.
DAVE:
Jim, listen, Jim! I really can’t do it. I fall to pieces with things like this. I’ll be in court! Courts are pretty scary.
JIM:
You’ll be fine. You’re bound to get a story. Death and destruction follow you round like a bad smell. How do you get it to voice record?
MATT DEMONSTRATES
JIM:
Easy. Right, you need a bag.
DAVE:
I don’t have a bag.
MATT:
My bag’s just there.
DAVE:
Matt, just, will you stay out of it?
JIM PUTS SOME OF HIS PAPER IN THE BAG.
JIM:
And have a shave before you go.
MATT:
Here you are.
MATT TAKES HIS SLIPPERS FROM THE BAG, TURNS ONE UPSIDE DOWN AND CATCHES THE RAZOR INSIDE.
DAVE:
Is that where you keep your razor?!
MATT:
Ha, I know, I can’t think of anywhere else to put it. Keeps me on my toes, though, I tell you!
JIM:
I’m surprised you’ve got any toes left.
DAVE:
I already had a shave this morning.
JIM:
Do it properly this time. You’re supposed to do your whole face, not a random selection. You look like a burns victim. (CHECKS WATCH) There’s no time anyway, you’re going to be late.
JIM BUNDLES DAVE OUT OF THE FRONT DOOR.
DAVE:
Hang on a second here Jim –
THE FRONT DOOR SLAMS. JIM RE-ENTERS.
JIM:
Probably got time for a cup of tea.
OPENING CREDITS