The Invisible Woman Page #2

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Blue Revisions dated 11th June 2012 6.

NELLY’s hand silently stills the absent tap of an ERRANT

SCHOOLBOY’s foot against his chair as he sits in a

makeshift prompt box close by.

NELLY:

(shouting out)

A little louder if you please

John.

The SCHOOL CONDUCTOR NODS to a KEEN VIOLINIST, BOW AT THE

READY:

SCHOOL BOY 2

I can see for myself that there's

a storm coming.

THEN he nods to a LARGE SCHOOLBOY who rattles a metal storm

sheet, whilst the JOLLY PERCUSSIONIST turns a wind drum,

and a THIRD SCHOOLBOY SHIFTS a TIN OF PEAS, building in

momentum like icy drops of sleeting rain, all just visible

in the makeshift wings.

SCHOOL BOY 2 (CONT’D)

I smell the snow-

The RISING SOUNDS of percussive storm LOUDER NOW-

SCHOOL BOY 2 (CONT’D)

....I feel the hurricane, in the

air.

TWO SCHOOLBOY MOUNTAINEERS cross the stage, joining the

cafe scene

SCHOOL BOY 3

Well are you ready at last?

The BACK AND FORTH OF THE METAL STORM TRAY RATTLING, THE

PERCUSSIVE TAMBA BUILDING IN STEADY RHYTHM SUDDENLY SLICING

WITH:

6 INT. CARRIAGE. TRAIN. NEAR STAPLEHURST. KENT. DAY. 1865. 6

The TEARING STEADY RHYTHM OF TRAIN WHEELS AGAINST STEEL AND

TRACK-

The STREAK of countryside, FLEETING and ABSTRACTED, a BLUR

of light and colour beyond.

SCHOOL BOY 4 VO

I am sick and weary of all this

delay

Then just visible in the glass, NELLY[mid 20’s] reflection

indistinct yet rippling in the glass

Blue Revisions dated 11th June 2012 7.

SCHOOL BOY 3 VO

You hear what my friend says? Do

you cross the mountain with us or

not?

7 INT. SCHOOLHALL. MARGATE. DAY. 1885. 7

NELLY, seemingly lost in watching the play, oblivious to

BENHAM’s brief gaze, quietly observant, noting little to

give away her state of distraction bar the steam of her wet

boots and the sense that her mind is always elsewhere-

SCHOOL BOY 3

Fair weather or foul, I have no

time to lose. And I am for

pushing on-

But still BENHAM clocks it, looking back, resuming watching-

The SCHOOL BOY MOUTAINEERS climbing a mountainous pile of

plaster and cardboard Alp. The endless icy landscape beyond

and SWIRL of the PERCUSSIVE STORM DEAFENING IN THE

ORCHESTRA PIT:

A YOUNG PERCUSSIONIST SWILLS peas in a tin tray, creating the

noise of falling rain. It builds and builds-

ALL carrying NELLY far away, deep within her mind

8 EXT. STREET. FREE TRADE HALL. MANCHESTER. 1857. DAY. 8

POURING RAIN-

The impressive Manchester Free Trade hall looming above-

The TURN of WHEELS over wet cobbles-

The STEAMING FLANK OF HORSES, HOOVES TREADING WET COBBLES AS

THEY PULL A CARRIAGE TO A STILL

FINGERS REACHING UP to UNFASTEN a carriage door, CHARLEY

DICKENS [18 yrs] stands holding an umbrella waiting-

A young NELLY [18 yrs] steps down from the carriage to be

greeted by CHARLEY, holding up the umbrella, trying to shroud

her from the pouring rain.

CHARLEY:

(holding out a hand)

Miss Ellen, welcome. I am Charley

Dickens. Welcome to Manchester.

NELLY smiles, suddenly a glove clasped in her hand falls to

the ground. CHARLEY at once bends down picks it up.

Blue Revisions dated 11th June 2012 8.

NELLY:

Thank you..

Behind NELLY, MRS FRANCES TERNAN [late 40’s] NELLY’s mother a

bright, lively woman peering out into the grey of Manchester

life.

CHARLEY:

Welcome..Welcome..Mrs Ternan.

MRS TERNAN:

Charley, thank you. So wet.

CHARLEY:

Yes, do be careful.

MARIA TERNAN [20 yrs] NELLY’s sister smiling clutching a hat

box-

CHARLEY (CONT’D)

Miss Maria. Come inside..Come

inside..

The SWAY of CRINOLINE skimming the rainy pavements-

CHARLEY (CONT’D)

My father is waiting. The others

are already here. What a day!

NELLY, MRS TERNAN guided by CHARLEY towards the entrance of

the Free Trade hall passing a poster advertising-

The Frozen Deep by Mr. Wilkie Collins. Under the management

of Mr. Charles Dickens clearly visible on a billboard

overhead-

MARIA:

Nelly, look-

MARIA beaming, eyes searching the poster, at last finding Mrs

Frances Ternan, Miss Maria Ternan, Miss Ellen Ternan. NELLY,

MARIA and MRS TERNAN peering at the poster with quiet awe.

NELLY:

Yes, there we are.

MRS TERNAN:

The print is a little small, but no

matter.

CHARLEY beyond waiting. MRS TERNAN ushering MARIA and

NELLY inside. Their bonnets and skirts a flash of

colour against the grey of Manchester life all around

Blue Revisions dated 11th June 2012 9.

9 INT. CORRIDOR. FREE TRADE HALL. MANCHESTER. 1857. DAY. 9

CHARLEY leading the trio of women along an impressive wood

lined corridor. Chairs stacked either side.

He leads them through into-

10 INT. MAIN HALL. FREE TRADE HALL. MANCHESTER. 1857. DAY 10

The opulent and magnificent interior of the Free Trade

Hall-

Paintings of the Kings and Queens of England flank one side

of the wall as CHARLEY leads them towards-

A beautiful theatre in the final moments of construction at

the far end of the vast hall. CARPENTERS, STAGE MANAGEMENT,

GASLIGHT ENGINEERS working around the distant figure of

CHARLES DICKENS [mid 40’s] lost in directing the STAGE HANDS

and STAGE MANAGEMENT in placing the scenery on the stage.

DICKENS:

Yes..Yes..If we could have the flat

over there..We need to create as

much space as possible..We’ll

probably have to bring everyting to

the left..What worked at Tavistock

house will seem lost here..Our set

looks like a toy theatre if we do

not-

CHARLEY leading NELLY, MRS TERNAN and MARIA towards the stage-

CHARLEY:

Father-

DICKENS turns and at once he is lost behind a huge flat of

painted rocks being manoeuvered into place on the stage. Once

the scenery has past, he is revealed. He jumps down from the

stage, springing across the hall, smiling, arms outstretched

delighting in their arrival-

DICKENS:

At last we have a full company! Mrs

Ternan welcome.

MRS TERNAN:

Mr Dickens.

(surveying theatre)

What a beautiful theatre you have

built for us.

DICKENS:

We have tried. I am glad. Welcome

Miss Maria..A good journey I hope?

Blue Revisions dated 11th June 2012 10.

MARIA:

Yes..Yes..Mr Dickens. Thank you.

MRS TERNAN:

It was quite comfortable.

DICKENS:

Good. Good. And you must be Miss

Ellen Ternan.

DICKENS stops, mid way through shaking their hands, pausing

on NELLY, with a smile.

DICKENS (CONT’D)

You’ve met my eldest son Charley of

course.

NELLY:

Yes..yes..He very kindly rescued my

glove.

DICKENS:

Ah, the gallant chevalier!

DICKENS grips CHARLEY’s shoulder in passing, turning to

present them to the MEMBERS of the COMPANY

DICKENS (CONT’D)

Ladies and gentleman may we welcome

our newcomer, Miss Ellen who is

helping us in our hour of need.

(to NELLY)

We wish your sister Frances well.

Is it the Haymarket or Phoenix we

have lost her to?

NELLY:

The Haymarket. She is so sad not to

be here.

MRS TERNAN:

But Nelly will give you a wonderful

performance-

DICKENS:

I have no doubt.

DICKENS smiles, the MEMBERS of the company on the approach,

welcoming. DICKENS, in a spiral of energy, enthusiastically

enjoying the performance of these introductions-

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