The Secret of Crickley Hall Page #4

THE SECRET OF CRICKLEY HALL Ep 1 Pink Revisions 22.

EVE:

Do you know anything about the generator?

PERCY:

That was after my time. The owner got fed *

up with cold dinners. Brought your *

candles? *

EVE:

We’ll work it out. *

A pause. So why is he here?

PERCY:

You didn’t fancy staying in town then.

EVE:

My husband’s working up here for a couple

of months. It’s not a holiday.

CALLY:

He’s an engineer.

EVE:

We’re just here to keep him company. *

Percy’s looking at the dog through the window.

EVE (cont’d)

Are dogs not allowed?

PERCY:

It’d be best if you keep him outside.

CALLY:

No!

EVE:

He’s an indoor dog. Will the owners find

out?

PERCY:

Not from me.

EVE:

You must have seen a lot of people come

and go.

PERCY:

One or two.

EVE *

It doesn’t feel like anyone’s lived here *

for a while. *

THE SECRET OF CRICKLEY HALL Ep 1 Pink Revisions 23.

Percy glances at the girls. Doesn’t want to speak in front of *

them. *

PERCY *

You keep your girls out of the cellar and *

I won’t say anything about the dog. *

He places a scrap of paper with a phone number scrawled on it *

on the table.

PERCY (cont’d)

I hope you settle in. If you get any

problems, you call me.

He eyeballs her solemnly.

PERCY (cont'd)

Anytime.

He leaves with a last look over his shoulder at the girls.

Closes the door. Eve confronts Loren. Very firm.

EVE:

What have I told you.

LOREN:

He’s a nice man.

EVE:

You don’t know that

LOREN:

You were just downstairs

EVE:

It only takes a second -

Gabe enters, wiping oil from his hands. Eve stops herself,

getting too loud and heated.

CALLY:

There’s a man who looks after the house.

Gabe gives Eve’s arm a calming squeeze and kneels in front of

Loren.

GABE:

Show Mum your moves.

Loren makes a fist.

GABE (cont’d)

Where does the thumb go?

THE SECRET OF CRICKLEY HALL Ep 1 Pink Revisions 24.

Loren carefully slides her thumb out from inside the fingers

to rest outside the curled fist.

GABE (cont’d)

Aiming for what part of the nose?

Loren places her fist at the bridge of Gabe’s nose.

EVE:

Or:
don’t let them in.

Cally’s looking out the window after Percy.

CALLY:

Does he know about Cam?

EVE:

No darling. Why?

CALLY:

He’s sad.

44

EXT. CRICKLEY HALL - DAY 4 44

Percy stops and looks back at the house. He’s on the edge of

tears. On his pov of the house we dissolve back seventy years

to:

45

EXT. CRICKLEY HALL - 1943 DAY 3 45

On the outside not much has changed. On the doorstep is a

young woman NANCY, dressed for an interview.

Watching her from the same spot as elderly Percy, is young

Percy, seventeen.

46

INT. CRICKLEY HALL / ENTRANCE HALL - 1943 DAY 3 46

MAGDA, thirty-ish, answers the door.

Nancy is barely out of her teens. She keeps her right arm

concealed and shakes Magda’s hand with her left.

MAGDA:

How are things in London?

NANCY:

They’ve calmed down.

MAGDA:

They’ve bombed the best of it. You must

be thrilled at the prospect of getting

out.

THE SECRET OF CRICKLEY HALL Ep 1 Pink Revisions 25.

Magda sees Nancy looking over her shoulder.

A six year old boy is peering through the bannisters on the

landing, exactly where Eve sensed someone seventy years

later. STEFAN is the boy from her dream.

MAGDA (cont’d)

Come down here young man.

Stefan trudges down the staircase.

MAGDA (cont’d)

This one’s the worst. He came to us from

Germany. He’s run away four times. Where

he thinks he can escape to I have no

idea. We have to watch him like a hawk.

Stefan arrives.

MAGDA (cont’d)

He knows very well where he’s supposed to

be. He doesn’t seem to agree with our

prayers. Isn’t that right?

Nancy smiles supportively at Stefan.

NANCY:

What’s your name?

MAGDA:

Stephen.

STEFAN:

Stefan Rosenbaum.

MAGDA:

Understands every word but refuses to

speak it.

Nancy gets down to his level.

NANCY:

You shouldn’t run away Stefan. It’s very

dangerous back in London. You’re much

safer here.

MAGDA:

There’s no-one else who’s going to look

after you. Go on.

Nancy watches him trudge away.

MAGDA (cont’d)

Miss Linnet?

THE SECRET OF CRICKLEY HALL Ep 1 Pink Revisions 26.

47 INT. CRICKLEY HALL / MAGDA’S STUDY - 1943 DAY 3

Nancy sits in front of Magda in a formal interview situation.

Magda enjoying her moment of power, studying Nancy’s

references minutely.

MAGDA:

You’re an orphanage girl yourself. I

suppose you believe that gives you a

special insight into our charges.

NANCY:

I believe I understand what some of them

are going through.

MAGDA:

This isn’t the place for sentimentality.

That won’t do for these children. They

need to learn respect for authority if

they’re going to amount to anything.

NANCY:

I believe in discipline.

Nancy glances at the empty chair beside Magda. She was

expecting another interviewer.

MAGDA:

My brother sends his apologies. You’ve

been told about his injury I’m sure. You

don’t have to pretend. People can’t wait

to gossip about misfortune. I’m sure

you’ve had your fair share of that.

Magda’s looking at Nancy’s right arm.

MAGDA (cont’d)

May I?

Nancy’s reluctant.

MAGDA (cont'd)

I need to see the extent of your

affliction if you’re going to work for

us.

Nancy uncovers her withered arm.

MAGDA (cont’d)

Polio?

NANCY:

Smallpox.

THE SECRET OF CRICKLEY HALL Ep 1 Pink Revisions 27.

MAGDA:

Do you have any use of it?

NANCY:

A little.

MAGDA:

Well I daresay there’s no heavy lifting

required. There we are so you’ll

understand the need for sensitivity inthese matters that’s a point greatly in

your favour. Welcome aboard.

48 INT. CRICKLEY HALL / ENTRANCE HALL - 1943 DAY 3 48

Magda sees Nancy out. Magda looks at the grandfather clockand goes to it to open it and stop the pendulum.

MAGDA:

This thing makes a terrible racket.

Nancy looks into Cribben’s study where there seems to be a

shape working.

NANCY:

I was told Mr. Cribben is fullyrecovered.

Close on Magda. No he isn’t.

MAGDA:

It’s important you understand how much he

needs peace and quiet. He can’t tolerate

chaotic behaviour of any kind.

NANCY:

I should hope I could provide order.

MAGDA:

I’m relying on it. I won’t beat around

the bush Miss Linnet. My brother needs usto be on our very best form.

NANCY:

The children deserve nothing less.

Magda smiles thinly. She closes the door.

49 EXT. CRICKLEY HALL - 1943 DAY 3 49

Nancy stands outside Crickley Hall, gathering her thoughts.

PERCY:

Allow me Miss.

THE SECRET OF CRICKLEY HALL Ep 1 Pink Revisions 28.

Percy reaches for her case. Nancy ignores him and picks it up

with her good left arm.

NANCY:

There’s nothing wrong with me.

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