Written by

Ronan Gallagher

(c)Ronan Gallagher

Jim Grainger, a Quantum physicist and the quintessential modern man comes to Ireland to write a book. Finding an idyllic lakeside cottage in the west of Ireland he quickly moves in with his wife, their six-month old son and an array of computer and Internet linked hardware.

An ugly Hawthorn tree sits at the centre of the lawn blocking the view to the lake from his office. Jim's requests to have the local gardener remove the tree are met with resistance based on an old superstition that it is a sacred Fairy Tree which shouldn’t be touched.

Despite local advice to leave well enough alone, he persists with his plans to remove the tree and thus begins a descent into madness, a journey that may in the end cost him everything he holds dear.

SAMPLE SCRIPT

BLACK SCREEN

SFX PHONE DIAL TONES

SFX PHONE RINGING OUT

SCENE 1

EXTERIOR COUNTRY LAKE DAY

SFX PHONE RINGING OUT (Ctd)

Camera passes low over the dark water of a lake.

SFX PHONE BEING ANSWERED AT OTHER END

A startled swan takes off from the water its large wings whooping as it slowly rises out of frame.

 V/O MAX CLIFFORD (Over Phone Line)

Max Clifford here.

Pulling up slowly, in the distance sitting close to the lakeshore we see a quaint though solitary stone clad cottage surrounded on three sides by woodland.

 V/O JIM GRAINGER

Max. Jim Grainger here. How're you doing?

 Close on the cottage.

 V/O MAX (Over Phone Line)

 Jim! How the hell are you? How's the new home?

Passing over the shore line and up over a garden fence to a lawn at the center of which stands a small though ugly bush around which a gardener mows in a wide circle.

 V/O JIM

Chaotic at the moment. We're moving in the last of the stuff today.

 Up a long driveway which leads to the cottage outside of which a large truck is parked with the words Harringtons International House Movers emblazoned on its side. Two workmen are struggling with a large box, which they are trying to lift off the truck

Close on workmen.

 V/O JIM (Ctd)

Where to put it all is the next question.

The two men lift the large box off the truck. The words:

Cambridge University Science Dept. Computer Parts Handle With Care

 are stamped all over the box. We follow the two men as they enter the house and proceed into the hallway.

 V/O MAX (Over Phone Line)

No doubt Anne will soon bring some order to the chaos.

 

They stop at a door and opening it enter a room.

V/O MAX (Over Phone line)

How is she? And little James?

Anne Grainger, a striking dark haired  woman in her late twenties kneels on the floor of the room among a sea of cardboard boxes unpacked ornaments and other objects.

V/O JIM

She's great. Busy unpacking. James is loving the excitement.

Baby James, a cute blond chubby cheeked boy about a year old sits up in a high chair full of smiles. Both look up at the men as they enter the room struggling with the box. Anne waves them out again.

CUT TO

SCENE 2

INT COTTAGE STUDY DAY

A desk with a large computer and monitor stands by a large bay window. Jim Grainger a tall handsome American man in his mid forties sits at his desk talking to Max Clifford on the phone.

Close on desk.

 JIM

So how are things at the science department since our departure? What are people saying?

A bright room, the study is dotted with unopened boxes and files as we pass over a floor littered with piles of paperwork and  stacks of books

V/O MAX (Over Phone line)

Some are jealous, others are genuinely delighted….

On top of one stack of books a book with a startling picture of space on it’s dust cover and titled

OUTERWORLD

‘Black Holes and Event Horizons. A lay mans guide to Quantum Physics’

Dr Jim Grainger.

V/O MAX (Over Phone line)

All are absolutely astonished that a book on Quantum Physics and Black Holes could earn its author a fortune on the bestseller list.

JIM

And what do you say?

 V/O MAX (Over Phone line)

Me? I say you’ve done well Jim. You’ve earned your stripes.

Jim looks out the bay window which over looks the lawn. In the middle of the lawn stands the tree blocking the line of view to the lake.

V/O MAX (Over Phone line)Ctd

You brought Black Hole science to the attention of millions of ordinary people by simply letting them understand it in their language.

Jim watches as the gardener mows the lawn in a circular motion around the tree.

V/O MAX (Over Phone Line)Ctd

As Professor of Science that is your job after all. I’m looking forward to the next book.

JIM

Thanks Max. I appreciate that.

Suddenly the door bursts open and the two workmen enter the room struggling with the box.

FIRST WORKMAN

Where do you want this Mr Grainger?

JIM

I gotta go Max. I’ll call you when we`re settled.

MAX (Over Phone line)

Ok Talk to you soon.

 Jim hangs up and immediately begins clearing a space for the box.

 CUT TO

 SCENE 3

EXTERIOR COTTAGE DAY

The first removal man stands by the truck with Jim.

FIRST REMOVAL MAN

Well that’s the lot Mr. Grainger.

He produces a document.

FIRST REMOVAL MAN

If you’ll just sign this Ill be on my way.

REMOVAL MAN

Thanks very much Mr. Grainger.

He hops up into the truck and starts the engine. Rolling down the window he leans out.

REMOVAL MAN

Good luck in your new home.

He waves to Grainger who waves back. As the truck pulls away Jim turns back to the house. Spotting the gardener he walks to him.

JIM

Excuse me…Mick?

The gardener Mick Callaghan an elderly man with a weather beaten face concentrates on the job at hand the sound of the mower drowning out all other sound. Seeing Grainger approach, he switches off the mower.

CALLAGHAN

Finished unloading then?

JIM

Yeah. Now the real task of unpacking begins though. Bloody nightmare. Where to put everything? That sort of thing.

Callaghan takes out a pipe from his overalls and lights it, smoke billowing around him.

CALLAGHAN

I’m sure your good wife`ll take care of that. You know how womenfolk are. Everything has its place.

JIM

That’s for sure. Which reminds me.

He points to the bush in the lawn.

JIM

That bush over there. Could you remove it for me?

Callaghan seems taken aback at the request. Jim notices.

JIM

Is something wrong?

 CALLAGHAN

Eh…No…No…Its just that……

 JIM

What…?

CALLAGHAN

Well…..That tree….Its been here for as long as I can remember. You wouldn't want to cut that down.

 Jim slightly miffed at this cuts across him.

 JIM

Why not? It’s a Godawful eyesore and its blocking our view of the lake.

Callaghan looks at him for a beat.

CALLAGHAN

It's not lucky to cut…

Anne comes to the front door and calls Jim. He calls back to her.

JIM

Coming honey.

He turns back to the gardener.

JIM

 Just get it out of there, there’s a good man.

Jim turns away from the gardener dismissively and heads back towards the cottage. Callaghan watches after him.

 

Hold for a beat.