The Time Machine Page #7

MRS. WATCHETT

Happy New Year, sir.

Mrs. Watchett exits, closing the door after her. Once

again the Time Traveller is alone. He looks at the

old calendar that reads: "December 3l. 1899," rips

the final sheet from the pad, crumples it into a tight

little ball and tosses it into the hearth where it

burns. With slow and deliberate movements he replaces

the old calendar with the new one. Then, he hastily

scribbles a note which he puts into an envelope and

places it prominently on the table. He rises and

mounts the steps that lead to:

INT. CORRIDOR - MOVING SHOT 62

The Time Traveller walks slowly toward a closed door

at the end of the passageway. Here he pauses momentarily,

removes the key from his pocket, unlocks the door, then

slowly swings it open as the MUSIC STARTS the THEME of

the picture.

INT. LABORATORY - FULL SHOT - (NIGHT) 63

The laboratory has the appearance of having once been

a greenhouse. Only a few potted plants remain. The

glass walls are obscured from view from the garden by

rows of tall growing plants. Only the glass skylight

is clear. Thick, dark, low-hanging clouds are pass-

ing beneath the moon, dimming its light and leaving

the interior a maze of dark shadows. As the slow mov-

ing clouds pass overhead, a shaft of moonlight seeps

through and we SEE workbenches, numerous tools, sheets

of drawings and scientific instruments situated around

the perimeter.

But the most conspicuous object in the room is the

Time Machine. It is a duplicate of the miniature model

already seen.

However, its size gives it a majestic quality. Nickel,

ivory and crystalline quartz gleam and sparkle. While

the miniature possessed a delicate, appealing note, the

full size Machine has an ominous look. The wavering

moonlight seems to render it alive and give it the

power of movement.

CLOSE ON TIME TRAVELLER - MOVING SHOT 64

Staring at the Machine, hypnotized by his own crafts-

manship, he locks the door with accustomed movement,

then crosses to a workbench and lights a candle. Here

a crystalline lever is attached to a polishing buffer.

The Time Traveller sets it in motion, polishing the

crystal lever until its rough edges disappear and it

sparkles like a fine cut diamond. As he works, his

lips purse and he softly STARTS TO WHISTLE the melancholy

strains of "The Land Of The Leal." A clock near him on

the workbench reads: "9:30."

Satisfied with the buffing, he removes the gleaming

handle and crosses to the Machine. He settles into the

saddle and affixes the crystalline lever. There is no

sign of urgency in his movements to betray that his

settling himself into the saddle is any more than a

routine position he has taken before to work on the

Machine.

Then he leans back in the saddle and gazes up at:

INSERT:
SKYLIGHT - (STOP MOTION OR ANIMATION) 65

Passing clouds.

BACK TO TIME TRAVELLER 66

He looks upwards for several moments. Then his hand

slowly reaches forth and his fingers encircle the

lever. - Gently he urges it forward.

A HUMMING SOUND, similar to the one made by the model,

but MORE RESONANT starts and a soft glow wells up from

within the Machine.

INSERT:
THE CONTROL PANEL 67

The luminous dials show: "31 December 1899." The

meters and indicators start to BUZZ and whirl. The

glow increases.

BACK TO TIME TRAVELLER 68

His expression is taut as he looks around, then down

to the control panel.

TIME TRAVELLER'S VOICE

I started...and the laboratory grew

faint around me...

INSERT OF PANEL 69

The figures spin, the needles vibrate. Then almost

at once the Time Traveller's hand reaches for the

lever and jerks it over to halt the Machine. The

HUMMING LESSENS and FADES.

BACK TO TIME TRAVELLER 70

As he starts to look up and around, slowly.

TIME TRAVELLER'S VOICE

...I stopped.

WHAT HE SEES - MOVING SHOT 71

Starting at the WINDOW with frost around the edges

and icicles outside, we move around the room PASSING

THE WORKBENCH over to the DOOR. During this we HEAR the:

TIME TRAVELLER'S VOICE

No change; everything exactly as it

bad been before. - But no!

THE CAMERA SWINGS BACK TO THE WORKBENCH, CLOSE, where

the clock now shows "11:09" and the candle has burned

shorter.

TIME TRAVELLER'S VOICE (excited)

The clock said 9:31 when I started and

now it was 11:
O9...and the candle,

shorter by inches.

BACK TO TIME TRAVELLER 72

He looks amazed, then pulls his old fashioned watch

from his pocket by its gold chain. It flips open

showing almost "9:32."

TIME TRAVELLER'S VOICE

And yet by my watch which was in the

machine with me, only a few seconds

had passed.

Pleased, he puts his watch away and reaches for the

lever, looking off toward the:

WORKBENCH - (ANIMATION) 73

The HUMMING SOUND STARTS again and, while the hands

of the clock circle the dial, the flame of the candle

flickers with the speed of a bee's wing, melting the

candle down. The CAMERA MOVES to the window where the

frost has spread and the icicles continue to grow.

Light comes up behind so that the crystals glitter like

gems and the sun starts to rise.

TIME TRAVELLER IN THE MACHINE - MED. SHOT 74

The rays of the early Morning sun slide down the lab-

oratory wall and sweep across the Time Traveller and

his Machine. A trace of a smile -- and then, he looks

up and squints.

TIME TRAVELLER'S VOICE

It was disconcerting to see the sun...

INSERT:
SKYLIGHT - MED. SHOT - (STOP MOTION OR 75

ANIMATION)

As the sun arches majestically.

TIME TRAVELLER'S VOICE

...arc in less than a minute...

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