Ok, so I recently finished the first draft of the first episode of a sitcom script I am writing, but before I go any further I would like to have some feedback to help me improve it. Currently I think it may be a bit to much like Peep Show (I have copied the Internal Dialogue idea), but I hope to find a way to put a new spin on this in further rewrites. This is one of the first scenes in the episode, and shows Tom, the main character, going to his new flat for the first time, but the previous owner is still there. Please tell me what you think of it, and how I can improve it. Thanks.
TOM WALKS DOWN THE CORRIDOR, LOOKING FOR HIS NEW FLAT. HE SEES IT.
TOM (V.O)
There it is, my very own flat. Take that everyone who when to university, because I've got a house.
HE KNOCKS ON THE DOOR, BUT NO-ONE ANSWERS. HE KNOCKS AGAIN, BUT HAS NO LUCK.
TOM (V.O)
Where is he? He said he would still be here.
HE PUSHES THE DOOR, AND IT OPENS.
TOM (V.O)
This isn't good. This is like something out of a horror film. It would be so typical of me to live out my life with hopes and dreams, only to find I was in a horror movie, and the guy who died before the opening credits. Should I go in?
HE GOES INSIDE.
TOM
Hello?
HE WALKS INTO THE CORRIDOR TO SEE A MAN, DAN, LYING ON THE FLOOR, UNMOVING.
TOM (V.O)
Oh shit! Oh god! Please don't be dead, be anything but dead! What if they think it was me? My life would be over. I can't go to prison, I'm exactly the kind of guy who shouldn't go to prison...I should probably be more concerned about him at the moment.
HE GOES OVER TO DAN AND BEGINS TO TAP HIM.
TOM
Excuse me. Oh god, please wake up!
DAN BEGINS TO STIR.
TOM
Oh thank god! Thank---
BEFORE TOM CAN FINISH HIS SENTENCE, DAN JERKS UPRIGHT AND IS SICK IN HIS FACE.
DAN
Whoa, sorry about that mate.
TOM
That's...(wipes eyes)...ok. I'm Tom. I'm here for the flat.
DAN
Yeah, I think I may have had a bit much to drink. And a bit much to...drugs. What would you call that? A bit much to snort? Yeah. (Remembers) And there was that weird thing I ate off the pavement.
TOM
Ok, well this has been great, but you probably want to be off now.
DAN
I dunno. I mean, now that I think about it, I don't know if I want to go.
TOM (V.O)
Please go.
DAN
I love this flat. Love it like I gave birth to it. Well, maybe not that much. I mean, imagine squeezing a flat out of your vagina. I'm not sure you'd ever be able to love it after that. But I guess it's time to move on. Time to live! I don't even have an STD! Anyway, here are the keys.
HE GIVES THEM TO TOM, EXCEPT ONE.
DAN
I'll keep this one though, in case I ever want to swing by, relive some old memories.
TOM
Are you allowed to do that?
DAN
So, goodbye, and I may see you when I swing by, yeah?
HE WALKS OUT.
TOM (V.O)
Note to self, change the locks.
DAN WALKS BACK IN.
DAN
Oh, and that stain in the living room, that's not blood, if anyone asks.
DAN WALKS OUT AGAIN.
TOM (V.O)
Scratch changing the locks, I need to buy a f**king gun.
HE STARTS TO WALK AROUND THE FLAT.
TOM VO
This place is a tip. I could clean it before Richard gets here, I've got two hours. But then he wouldn't know I'd done it. If I wait for him to get here, and then I clean it, that'll make a good impression. I guess I'll just pick my room.
HE WALKS INTO A SMALL BEDROOM.
TOM (V.O)
Go for the smaller one, be nice? Nahh.
HE WALKS OUT AND INTO THE BIGGER BEDROOM, THEN SITS ON THE BED.
TOM (V.O)
I claim you, bigger room. But what to do now. I could masturbate, mark my territory? No, this place is so dirty I think I'd catch HIV just by getting my cock out.