WT 'Privileged Information' Screenplay - first draft:

-

 

“PRIVILEGED INFORMATION”

By

Honey Gawn-Hopkins

 

London

15gawhon@alleyns.org.uk


FADE IN:

INT: LENA’S BEDROOM – INSIDE HOUSE

‘Morning sequence’ 

The sound of an alarm clock interrupts peaceful morning underscore

     LENA

            UGHHH! 

 

CUT TO

LENA in kitchen, fast-pace, positive underscore – LENA is preparing breakfast – we hear the radio in the background (diegetic sound of NEWSREADER describing a recent event) LENA continues to prepare breakfast. LENA is hardly listening to the NEWSREADER

 

   NEWSREADER

Another fatality occurred yesterday evening in the East End of London, at precisely 11.30 pm. The police have issued a statement saying that they are looking into enquiries as to who could be behind these devastating crimes-

 

The NEWS READER is cut off 

Cut to

Sequence of fast-pace shots where LENA hurriedly brushes her teeth, gets dressed, (struggling whilst under time pressure) and puts on make-up. 

Cut to

LENA walking towards her front door – checks herself briefly in the mirror. Smiles, and leaves.

LENA walks down the corridor of her house – shuts the door behind her as she leaves. The camera stays looking at where she left, static, there is silence for a few seconds. 

 

 

INT: LONDON TUBE: VICTORIA LINE: 

The carriage is full – commuters going to work – LENA sits amongst them, looking around at the different faces on the tube. 

Cut to 

A shot-reverse-shot of passenger’s face and LENA’s face, these ECU shot-reverse-shots are repeated on two other passengers. LENA is hyper-aware of her surroundings.

 

LENA realizes she is sitting on a newspaper – she picks it up and reads it – a tabloid with a sensationalist headline focusing on previously mentioned murder

 

EXT: WHITEHALL

 

LENA adjusts an earpiece 

SOUND ENGINEER helps attach a mic to LENA – he checks the volume on his device as the pair ‘test’ the equipment

 

   SOUND GUY

Testing, testing. Okay, ready? Five, Four, Three,

 

(Mouthing)

           Two, one…

     LENA

Thanks Rob, yes - the prime minister has issued a statement regarding the renowned attacks, it appears that the help the public is offering is welcomed by –

 

LENA’S report is interrupted – We hear a voice on the other end of her earpiece talking excitedly: Some parts of the speech will be audible to the spectator; other parts will not be. 

 

(Overlapping dialogue)

 

MUFFLED VOICE (ROB)

Sorry Lena, sorry to interrupt viewers – We’ve just been receiving a statement from –

 

LENA

Rob? Rob! What’s going on – 

 

MUFFLED VOICE (ROB)

Via Twitter, The MET and UK government have issued a public appeal- 

LENA

Public appeal? Sorry viewers – I – I’m trying to find out-

 

MUFFLED VOICE (ROB)

A photograph of the alleged killer has been made public: They can be seen wearing a brightly coloured hat and scarf.

LENA checks her phone – We see a figure wearing a Bright orange beanie and a matching scarf – through a CCTV footage photograph

 They have asked the public with any possible information on the whereabouts of this person to - 

 

 

Pause – The camera focuses on LENAs reaction, zooming into an ECU on her face

LENA

Sor-sorry Rob. I…I’m Sorry.

LENA begins to rip off her mic and takes out her earpiece

SOUND GUY

Lena?! LENA!

 

LENA begins to run away

 

CUT TO: LENA walking along Waterloo bridge – on her phone. The camera is on the other side of the bridge, cutting closer to LENA each time a car passes. 

Short montage of LENA walking through London – looking nervous and concerned

 

CUT TO: LENA walking down her street – she looks around at each person who passes her – this section is full of Paranoia. 

CUT from the camera tracking LENA to dolly shot in front of her.

This brief section is filmed in slo-mo: the underscore is rich and suspenseful

 

LENA eventually reaches her front door. 

 

She fumbles her keys out of her pocket. 

 

 

 

 

INT: OF LENA’s HOUSE. 

 

She throws her keys onto the side table in her hall. Looks into the mirror once more – briefly.

She walks upstairs – the camera lingers behind her, at the bottom of the stairs, increasing this sense of paranoia. 

 

 

INT: LENA’S BEDROOM

LENA gets something out of her chest of drawers – we don’t see what it is.

CUT TO: LENA lying down on her bed, at the same angle as she was positioned in the beginning. She reaches out of frame to reveal the two bright pieces of clothing folded neatly, bloodstained and tied in a bow. 

 

She puts them to her chest, smiles. 

 

FADE OUT:

THE END

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