The Time Machine Page #2

All heads turn as Mrs. Watchett enters, closing the

door quietly behind her. With an envelope in her

hand she stands there, hesitating.

DR. HILLYER

Speak up -- what is it, woman?

She is taken aback for a moment, then walks over

to Filby and hands him the open envelope. He

takes his time in extracting the note.

BRIDEWELL:

Well...are we or are we not invited

to dinner?

FILBY (reading)

Apparently we are.

(to Mrs. Watchett)

How long has he been gone?

MRS. WATCHETT (nervously)

I can't rightly say, sir. - Several

days...I hardly catch a glimpse of

him lately. He never leaves the

laboratory and comes out only to

nibble at his meals...but he did tell

me days ago about dinner tonight and

left these instructions.

(pointing to note)

FILBY:

Thank you, Mrs. Watchett.

A faint, nervous smile is her acknowledgement and

with that she retreats toward the door.

DR. HILLYER (indicating the

note)

What does it say, Filby? What's

wrong?

FILBY:

Nothing really. - George merely says

that if he is not here by eight we're

to begin without him.

Kemp tears the note out of Filby's hand and reads it

hurriedly. Meanwhile, Mrs. Watchett swings the door

open and turns around.

MRS. WATCHETT

Dinner is served, gentlemen!

BRIDEWELL (puts his glass

down)

First sensible thing I've heard all

evening.

He rises and starts for the dining room. The others

follow.

FILBY, HILLYER & KEMP - MOVING SHOT 8

As they walk toward the DINING ROOM.

FILBY:

This is peculiar. He is usually very

prompt, precise and punctual.

DR. HILLYER

He's making fools of us by inviting

us here and then not showing up.

It's not the behavior of a gentleman.

KEMP:

To say nothing of the waste of

time.

DR. HILLYER (agreeing)

To say nothing of the waste of

time.

Bridewell, already seated at the heavily laden dining

table, pours a glass of wine for himself while the

others settle down. This time the chair at the head

of the table is conspicuously unoccupied.

BRIDWELL (arises, lifting

his glass)

One thing I will say for George, he

keeps the best cellar in the south of

England...and Mrs. Watchett is the

finest cook in the world. - I think

I'll drink to that!

The glass barely touches his lips as he freezes at

the SOUND OF DROPPING TRAYS and a PIERCING SCREAM.

All look in the direction of another door across

the room.

THE DOOR - FULL SHOT 9

It bursts inward and Mrs. Watchett, her hair flying,

dashes down the steps panic-stricken into the room.

The CAMERA RUSHES with her to the table where the

men have come to their feet. Clutching Filby's arm,

she points toward the long corridor now revealed by

the open door.

MRS. WATCHETT (frightened)

There!...there...

All stare o.s., Hillyer with the carving knife

clasped in his hand.

CORRIDOR THROUGH DOORWAY - FULL SHOT 10

We see the figure of a man approaching, a black

silhouette against the pale glow at the end of

the passage. He is bent with exhaustion and

sways as he moves forward, limping. The man comes

closer, his features still blacked out by shadows,

but as he nears the doorway, the light from the

room strikes first his legs, then his body and

finally his face. Here he stops.

This is our first meeting with the TIME TRAVELLER

(for so it will be convenient to speak of him). At

this instant he is in a sorry state. His clothing

is tattered and dirty, his face pale, bruised and

scratched and his eyes glazed with fatigue. For

a moment he hesitates as if dazzled by the light

and then takes another swaying step into the room.

FILBY AND BRIDEWELL - MOVING SHOT 11

They come to life. Bridewell, noticing the glass

of wine still in his hand, quickly gulps it down

before rushing with Filby toward the Time Traveller.

FILBY:

Good lord! - What's happened?

Reaching him, each seizes an elbow to support him.

Bridewell throws a frantic glance at Dr. Hillyer

back at the table. The Time Traveller, however,

moves forward under his own power.

TIME TRAVELLER:

I'm all right...just some food...a

drink...

He reaches the table and sinks into his chair. With

trembling hands Bridewell tries to pour him a glass

of wine, spilling most of it over the tablecloth.

The Time Traveller looks up at him with a wry smile.

TIME TRAVELLER:

Are you all right?

A stunned Bridewell is unable to speak while the Time

Traveller empties his glass.

BRIDEWELL (a delayed

answer)

Of course. I'm...all right...

Meanwhile, Mrs. Watchett hovers over the Time Traveller

like a mother hen.

MRS. WATCHETT (half

apology, half concern)

I didn't recognize you!...it was

so dark...

The CAMERA MOVES IN as she dishes up a bowl of soup

for him, but he pushes it away.

TIME TRAVELLER:

Meat...I'm hungry for meat!

Mrs. Watchett grasps the carving knife from Dr.

Hillyer and, with a single slash, cuts off a huge

portion of beef and loads it onto his plate.

GROUPSHOT 12

The Time Traveller eats, the men watching him

curiously. Finally Dr. Hillyer leans forward.

DR. HILLYER

Well, can't you speak, man? What

happened to you? Aren't you going

to tell us...

BRIDEWELL:

Leave him alone, can't you?

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