The Canal

Alright, quiet, come on.

Calm down.

Who wants to see ghosts?

Who wants to see some ghosts?

Ghosts!

Alright, that's better.

First of all, hello, welcome.

My name is David Williams,

this is my colleague, Clare McManus.

We are archivists in the

National Film Archive.

Today you're going to see a series

of films, dated from 1895 to 1905.

It's worth bearing in mind that everyone

you see in these films are long since dead

all these people, men, women and children have

vanished off the face of the earth forever.

So, in a way, it's like

watching real ghosts.

Alright, alright!

Let's just watch it and see what you think.

Thanks.

Don't worry.. she'll love it.

Hi!

Hey.. nice to see you! How are you?

This is my wife Alice.

Hi Hi! Great to meet you!

So nice to finally meet you. Sorry I couldn't

make it the last time. I was... busy

No no no no... not at all!

So... I'm going to let you go on in,

take a look for yourselves.

I'll be right here waiting for you,

take as much time as you need.

Alright, thank you.

Come on then!

Go on; you first.

Are you coming?

No. I'm too nervous.

Go on, you go round.

I love it!

Alice..

you got a message.

.. you got a message

Who is it?

Mam..

Dad

Hey sweetie...

I heard a noise and I woke up

and now I need to go toilet.

I'll go.

Da.. are you afraid of the dark?

No. Of course not.

Why, are you?

No, but there could be

something hiding in the dark

Like what?

Monsters.

Night night. Ok. I love you.

Night Dad, love you.

Do you want to tell me dinosaurs I can name

Maybe tomorrow.

Can you say night night to my dragon heads?

Good night!

Is he alright?

Yeah, he's fine.

Who was the message from?

Steve.

In work.

Just because he doesn't have a life he thinks

everyone else should be on a 24 hour call.

I'm sorry.

I should have switched it off earlier.

I love you.

Good night.

What time do you start work?

What's this? Not 'til 10.

Alright, come on.

Have a good day, sweetheart.

Bye. Love you. You too.

Thank you.

Bye boys!

Bye Mam!

Allosaurus, Bwontosaurus, T-Rex, Triceratops,

Stegosaurus, that's the best one!

Wow! God you're getting so clever,

that's more than I can name!

Do you think I'd be able to swim in there?

No way.. no.. it's too deep.

Would you be able to swim in there?

No..

No It's too deep for me too.

Billy... Billy..

Billy! Billy!

Hey don't go in there, I told you

A girl in our school saw a ghost in there

Well I don't know about ghosts,

but there could be rats in there.

It's filthy.

Can I throw a stone and see

if a ghost comes out?

Throw a stone?

Alright, just one.

Then we've got to go.

You got one?

Ok?

Can I throw another one?

No! Come on, we're going to be late.

I'll pick you up later.

Bye Dad!

Have a good day.

I hope you feel better than you look.

I didn't get much sleep last night.

Why, do I look that bad?

no worse than usual!

Anyway, I probably don't look much better!

I was up til 4am watching Cat

People and the Curse of the...

Cat People? It was on? I love that movie!

Yeah.. I was going to give you a call,

but... I figured you need your beauty sleep!

Yeah.. very funny.

Listen, I don't mean to spoil the day with

work, but some films came into the archive;

some from the police archive,

could be interesting.

Yeah

Would you look at them for me?

Sure

Great. Thanks.

Hey.. that's my road.

I had a really strange day today.

I watched a 1902 film, our house was in it.

There was a murder here. A man killed

his wife. It happened in this room.

What?

I wouldn't worry about it.

Horrible things happen in every old house.

Only these dinosaurs rule their...

You look amazing Mrs Williams!

Oh! Thank you, Sophie!

This is my husband, David.

Hi!

Hi.

Sophie used to be the nanny for

the Thompsons, two doors down.

Mam, Sophie never even

heard of Stegosaurus.

Well, not everyone knows about dinosaurs,

you know!

OK, make yourself at home, and help

yourself to any food in the kitchen.

We shouldn't be home too late.

See you tomorrow.

Sleep well.

Pleased to meet you.

Alice!

Hi!

Alex is here.

I'm sure you remember David, my husband.

Hi

You're the, the librarian?

The... archivist.

Nice to see you again.

You too.

I'm sure you won't mind if I borrow your

lovely wife for a couple of moments

there's somebody I'd

really like her to meet.

No no, not at all!

I'll get a drink.

Can I help you sir?

Can I get a..

another gin and tonic.

Hi.

I'm sorry about all that.

What was all that about?

Um..

work stuff.

He wanted me to meet this client,

but I didn't want to.

Not tonight.

I thought he was the client.

Yes...

he is.

But he wanted me to meet another one.

A colleague of his.

Let's dance.

I'm just going to finish this.

I love you.

Whoa!

Sorry! I couldn't resist.

You alright?

Yeah.

You look pale.

No I'm alright.

Yeah?

Paler than usual, even.

Um..

I have the last 7 or 8 of those donated films

lined up in the screening room, take a look?

Yeah, sure.

Twinkle twinkle little star,

how I wonder what you are.

Up above the world so high,

like a diamond in the sky..

Kiss!

Bye boy.

Bye Mum.

Wait for your Dad, Billy!

Hey, don't work late tonight.

Come straight home.

Why?

What's wrong?

I won't be too late, I promise.

Bye.

Alice!

Alice!

Hello?

Dad!

I'm still at school, are you collecting me?

Dad, did you forget about me?

I just lost track of time.

I'm sorry.

Adam and me were the only ones left.

Adam said a gowilla could beat a

winosaurus in a fight, is that true?

No.

The master wants you.

The master wants you.

David...

please.. don't..

I don't want to...

David...

please.. don't..

I don't want to die

Hi, it's Alice here,

sorry I missed your call.

If you want to leave your name and number I'll

get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks.

Detective McNamara.

So, when did you last see her?

Em.. yesterday morning.

We said good bye, I took Billy,

my son, to school.

And has she stayed out all night before?

No.

No, never.

She said she was working late last night,

but I asked a work colleague of hers

and she said Alice left around about five.

Did you have an argument?

No.

You sure?

Yeah.

You been in touch with her

family and friends?

Yes.

And they've heard nothing from her?

No.

Ok..

Hair colour?

Some of them are a little old.

That's all I could find.

Dad..

when will mummy be coming back?

I told you... she'll be home soon.

Don't worry.

Pretty..

Hey.

Hiya.

Is there any news?

How's Billy?

Yeah, he's fine.

I put him to bed about an hour ago.

He wanted to sleep in your room.

Do you know there's black

stuff on your hands.

They took my fingerprints to eliminate me.

In case there's an investigation.

Em.. I put Billy to bed about an hour ago.

He wanted to sleep in your room.

He's fine. All day. We get on really well!

He's a great kid, I really like him.

I get to know everything about dinosaurs!

Yeah!

I'd better go.

Yeah.

Thanks.

Yeah.

See you in the morning.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes