The Secret of Crickley Hall Page #7

THE SECRET OF CRICKLEY HALL Ep 1 Pink Revisions 40.

Can we?

EVE:

Gabe’s not happy about churches.

Sure.

GABE:

75 INT. CHURCH - DAY 5 75

Eve and the girls light a candle for Cam near the front ofthe church. Gabe loiters at the back, fighting resentment. Hescans the memorials on the wall. He finds a large plaque.

In memory of those orphans who drowned inthe Great Flood of 1943.

76 EXT. CEMETERY - DAY 5 76

Gabe moves among the headstones. He looks down at agravestone and sees the inscription and year of death - 1943.

He moves on a couple of paces and sees another with the sameyear. And another.

PERCY:

Mr. Caleigh?

Percy carries some weeding instruments. He nods towards Eveat the church door with the reverend.

PERCY (cont’d)

I met your wife up at Crickley Hallyesterday. Percy Judd.

GABE:

You work here? *

PERCY:

I look after the orphans. *

Percy searches Gabe’s face to see how much he knows. Gabe

doesn’t follow. Percy is relieved.

PERCY (cont'd)

You’re settling in all right.

GABE:

Everything’s great thanks. And we’ve got

your number.

PERCY:

I hope you won’t need it.

THE SECRET OF CRICKLEY HALL Ep 1 Pink Revisions 41.

Gabe watches Percy head over to a corner of the cemeterywhere he kneels and begins tending the grave stones.

77 EXT. CHURCH - DAY 5 77

Gabe returns to the church entrance where Eve is with the

vicar. Gabe indicates the headstones. *

GABE:

1943 was a bit of a bad year for you.

ANDREW:

The flood didn’t reach the church thank

God but yes. Sixty-eight people losttheir lives.

How?

EVE:

ANDREW:

It was a flash flood. People were drownedin their sleep.

He glances at Loren and Cally, both rapt.

GABE:

Don’t mind them the gorier the better.

Actually.

EVE:

Oh Mum!

LOREN:

ANDREW:

You can get a booklet in the newsagents.

Tells you all about it. *

EVE:

I’ll pick one up tomorrow.

(MOUTHING)

When she’s forgotten.

*

*

*

*

CALLY:

I won’t forget!

*

*

EVE:

Was Percy here then?

*

*

ANDREW:

I wouldn’t rely on what Percy says.

*

*

EVE:

He seems to know about Crickley Hall.

*

*

THE SECRET OF CRICKLEY HALL Ep 1 Pink Revisions 42.

ANDREW:

What do you want to know?

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*

EVE:

Who lived there.

*

*

ANDREW:

It’s just a house that never reallyworked. So are you churchgoers or justsightseeing?

*

*

*

GABE:

Sightseeing.

Andrew’s eyes meet Gabe’s. Gabe is radiating polite

hostility.

GABE (cont’d)

God doesn’t do anything for us I’m

afraid.

ANDREW:

How can you say that with two beautifulgirls.

Gabe’s got an answer ready but:

EVE:

I’d love to come to a service.

ANDREW:

We’d love to have you.

78 EXT. CEMETERY - DAY 5 78

Percy looks up from where he’s tending the graves as ReverendAndrew approaches.

*

*

REVEREND ANDREW:

Let them be, Percy.

*

*

PERCY:

If I was staying there with youngchildren I’d want to know.

*

*

*

REVEREND ANDREW:

They don’t need to share in our tragedy.

*

*

PERCY:

What do you know about it. You weren’t

even born.

*

*

*

THE SECRET OF CRICKLEY HALL Ep 1 Pink Revisions 43.

REVEREND ANDREW:

I know it’s not right to terrify young

children.

*

*

*

PERCY:

That’s why they should leave.

*

*

REVEREND ANDREW:

If you want to keep attending thesegraves I’m going to have to insist you

leave Crickley Hall alone. I hate to dothis to you Percy but if you want torespect their memories, you have to letthem go.

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

PERCY:

It’s not me who won’t let them go.

*

*

REVEREND ANDREW:

You decide.

*

*

Andrew walks away and we track away to a single headstoneovergrown and neglected.

Augustus Theophilus Cribben1901 - 1943

*

*

*

*

*

79 EXT. CRICKLEY HALL / GARDEN - DAY 5 79 *

The kitchen door is open to the garden. Loren at the far endof the garden calling for Clyde. Gabe examining the doorlock.

GABE:

This wasn’t broken when we left.

EVE:

He gave it a real hammering.

She sees the blood in the paw marks.

CALLY:

Mummy he wet the floor.

They look at the pool of urine on the kitchen floor.

EVE:

Maybe he is sick.

CALLY:

He was scared. *

EVE:

There’s nothing to be scared of here.

*

*

THE SECRET OF CRICKLEY HALL Ep 1 Pink Revisions 44.

CALLY:

Percy’s scared.

*

*

81 EXT. COUNTRY LANE - 1943 DAY 4 81

Percy on his bicycle careens down a country lane to catch upwith Nancy.

PERCY:

You need a lift Miss?

NANCY:

I’m nearly there.

PERCY:

Let me take that.

She recoils.

NANCY:

I really can manage.

PERCY:

What have you got in there the familyjewels?

She cracks a smile. He grins: first base.

82 EXT. BARNABY INN - 1943 DAY 4 82

They ride in tandem to park outside the village pub andlodgings.

PERCY:

Crickley’s not been lived in since before

I was born. I just keep it looking nicein case anyone’s stupid enough to buy it.

NANCY:

What’s wrong with it?

PERCY:

Chap who built it fancied himself anarchitect. He liked his fresh water so

much he built it on a river. Turned it

into a refrigerator. Speaking of whichhave you met Cribben?

NANCY:

He was indisposed. I’m sure we all have

our off days.

Percy carries Nancy’s case to the door.

THE SECRET OF CRICKLEY HALL Ep 1 Pink Revisions 45.

PERCY:

Not me Miss. I’m not going to waste what

time I have left moping around.

NANCY:

(LAUGHING)

What are you - all of seventeen?

She realizes.

NANCY (cont’d)

Oh. When are you being called up?

PERCY:

Couple of weeks. Make the most of me.

Nancy is silenced.

PERCY (cont’d)

You can come in with me in the morning if

you don’t mind starting at five-thirty.

NANCY:

Let’s see how it goes.

PERCY:

Call it six tomorrow. Give you time to

put your face on.

NANCY:

Are all country boys as cocky as you?

PERCY:

Can I call you Nancy then?

NANCY:

You may not. Goodnight Percy.

PERCY:

I’m glad those kids have got you to look

out for them.

Percy looks into her eyes and takes her right hand. Her

withered arm. At first she stiffens.

He lifts it gently and kisses her hand. She’s surprised and

touched.

Percy gets on his bicycle and speeds off to his house.

She feels reassured and hopeful.

THE SECRET OF CRICKLEY HALL Ep 1 Pink Revisions 46.

83 EXT. VILLAGE - DAY 5 83

It’s getting dark as Loren and Gabe walk through the village

looking for Clyde.

GABE:

When he’s hungry he’ll go looking for

people. You need to get your stuff ready

for school. You’ve been great about

coming out here.

LOREN:

It’s only a few weeks. Is it helping her?

GABE:

Yes. And it’s helping me.

Loren looks around distracted.

GABE (cont’d)

We’ll do the back road on the way home.

84A INT. SHED - DAY 84A

Locked away, Clyde paws at the door of a garden shed,

whining.

86 INT. CRICKLEY HALL / CLASSROOM - 1943 DAY 5 86

The orphans hand in their classwork to Nancy on their way

out. Stefan is the last in line. Nancy sees a mark on his

hand.

NANCY:

What happened here Stefan?

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