Musicians
Episode 1
By Jason Dewey
FADE IN:
1 Int.
Hallway – Morning
Peaceful. Doors are shut and there are birds
tweeting. Craig, Nils, Andy and Ryan come
out in pyjamas and sleepily make their way to the bathroom. Craig tries the
door. It doesn’t budge. He tries again. Nothing. Craig then realises:
Craig
Its locked!
A Flush. The door clicks and out strolls Jason fully dressed and washed. He
picks up his shoulder bag from just beside the bathroom door.
Jason
You realise we have to be in college in
half-an-hour?
Craig,
Nils, Andy and Ryan look at each
other.
Craig, Nils, Andy and Ryan
Shiiiiiii...
CUT
TO OPENING TITLES
2 INT.
Kitchen – Morning
The group eat their breakfast in silence;
eating cereal/fry ups and drinking tea and coffee. Jason waits aside; he has been ready for a while now. The group looks slightly dishevelled; messy
hair, unshaven, clothes look tatty etc. Shots alternate between group eating and Jason looking bored. Jason
tries to make conversation:
Jason
So... sleep well?
Group
No.
Jason nods, struggling to find something to
say. He opens and closes his mouth several times but cannot find the words to
express himself. Eventually he resorts to:
Jason
Cool.
3 Int./Ext. Front Door – Morning
The whole gang, now joined by Phil (the
quiet one) go up to the front door, ready to leave. In the shot we see Andrew surreptitiously put a hip-flask
in his jacket pocket and Nils
carrying a pack of cards. Ryan looks
suspicious while Jason just looks
bored.
The gang
from the flat below them appear, looking clean, awake and attractive.
Si, the leader, notices the other group.
Si
Hey guys, how’s it goin’?
Si appears confident and likeable. It is clear
that he is one of ‘the popular ones’ in life.
The gang
mumble in sync.
Phil
pipes up:
Phil
Tuesday.
Si nods at them, looking puzzled at Phil; he thinks they are a bit weird.
Si and his gang
walk off out of the driveway and out of sight.
The gang
sigh in sync. Si and his gang makes
them feel less confident in themselves.
Andrew repeatedly tries to lock the front door but
the key gets stuck. He cries out in annoyance.
Jason moves forward.
Jason
(sigh)
Oh give it here.
Jason pulls out a Sonic Screwdriver, and points it at the lock. A blue light shines
on it. Jason puts away the Sonic Screwdriver and locks the door. He
hands the key back to Andrew.
Jason
Right, lets
go.
TRANSITION SHOT FROM MORNING TO AFTERNOON:
4 Ext.
Driveway – Afternoon
The gang are walking back in the house.
Ryan
Well that was a waste o’ bloody time.
Nils
Urgh, when are we finally going to learn something
about the orchestra in Orchestration?!
Andrew
Yeah, it’s not as if we’re paying for it!
CUT TO:
5 Int.
Living Room – Late Afternoon
The
gang are eating dinner and watching television. They look bored.
Ryan
Oh for fucks sake, this is boring!
Lets do something?
Nils
Yeah! Lets
play Poker?
Andrew puts down a pint glass half-full with what
we assume is an alcoholic drink.
Andrew
(Slightly slurred)
Yeah I’m up for that.
Ryan
Yeah alright then!
Phil
Tuesday.
CUT TO:
6 Int.
Living Room Table – Evening
Close up of a pack of cards slamming on
table.
7 Int.
Living Room Table – Evening
Close up of poker chips slamming on table.
8 Int.
Living Room Table – Evening
Tea
mugs being slammed on table. A mistake; the group retract their hands suddenly as
they wince at the hot tea on their hands and arms.
Jason
What’d you do that for?
Now I’ve got to clean that up!
Jason sighs and moves to the kitchen to get some
towels to clean up the mess.
CUT TO:
9 Int.
Living Room Table – Late Evening
Middle of the poker game. Nils
and Ryan are in the lead, with Andrew not too far behind, Jason on the least chips and Craig already out. Phil sits at the television, watching cartoons.
Ryan
Raise. Fifty.
Nils
Fold.
Andrew
Fold.
Jason
Fold.
Ryan chuckles with glee as Nils gathers up the cards for the next hand.
TRANSITION SHOT TO:
10 Int.
Living Room Table – Later Evening
Nils and Ryan
are the only ones left; playing against each other. Tense atmosphere; Craig, Andrew and Jason watch
in anticipation. Phil is still
watching cartoons.
Close
ups of Nils’ and Ryan’s eyes. They glare at one another,
both trying to read the other’s hands.
Finally:
Nils
Showdown.
Ryan puts down his cards. Camera shows what he
has. On the table already is a Jack, Ten, Three, Ace,
and a Nine.
Ryan
Straight. Eight to Queen.
Close
up of Nils’ mouth. A slow, wry smile. He puts down one card. An
eight.
Nils
Straight.
Nils has one card left. In slow motion it comes
down. With an echoing thud, the camera reveals it as a King.
Close
up of Nils’ grin.
Nils
I win.
The
gang get up and pack the poker things away.
Andrew
Well, I’m off to bed.
Jason
Me too.
The
camera follows them to the hall as they disappear into their rooms.
Gang
Night.
The
camera then pans back to see Ryan
still at the table, silently fuming at his loss. Suddenly, his hand comes down
on the table, in anger.
CUT TO ENDING CREDITS
FADE TO:
11 Int.
Hallway – Night
Craig wakes up, needing the toilet. He puts on a
dressing gown and leaves his room.
In
the hallway, he finds Ryan dragging
what looks like a dead body in a bin bag into his room. Nils’ bedroom door is open.
Both
Craig and Ryan pause. Craig looks
at Ryan puzzled with his mouth
slightly ajar. Ryan has an
expression of shock and fear.
(Pause)
Craig continues to the toilet, shaking his head
and assuming it was a dream. Ryan drags the bin bag into his room and closes
the door, locking it.
CUT TO BLACK
END OF EPISODE 1.