The Time Machine Page #8

INSERT:
POT OF FLOWERS - (STOCK AND/OR STOP MOTION) 76

As they close.

TIME TRAVELLER'S VOICE

....to see flowers closing their eyes

for the night, changes that normally

took hours, occuring in seconds, was

beautiful.

During this it has turned into night and a little SNAIL

rushes across the ground beneath the plant, and then

the flowers start to open again. Light begins to flood

the scene.

In the b.g. Mrs. Watchett leaps into the garden, pauses

the briefest instant to sprinkle the flowers, then with

the speed of wind streaks away.

BACK TO TIME TRAVELLER 77

A trace of a smile, then apprehension.

TIME TRAVELLER'S VOICE

And as yet I was travelling very slowly!

(challenging)

What if I went faster?!

His hand shoves the lever farther over toward the

future position.

THE HUMMING SOUND RISES TO HIGHER PITCH. The Time

Traveller lurches in his seat, clings to the controls

and looks at the dials.

INSERT:
CLOSE ON DIALS 78

They are spinning.

BACK TO TIME TRAVELLER 79

As he looks up.

INSERT OF SKYLIGHT - (STOP MOTION OR ANIMATION) 80

The sun soars across the sky, night falls. Pin points

of stars streak by and dawn comes. The sun is chased

by the stars again and again. Faster and faster.

VERY CLOSE ON TIME TRAVELLER 81

His eyes gleam with a mad light, half pleasure, half

pain. His face is illuminated by the alternating

flashes of light, each one indicating the passage of

another day.

He turns toward the:

WINDOW - FULL SHOT - (ANIMATION, STOP MOTION & STOCK) 82

Without a trace of frost or icicles. The snow has

disappeared, replaced by the lush green of Spring.

While the vines of a morning Glory grow up and around

the window like a snake and the flowers open and close,

we see the following through repeated fast flashes.

The sun hops swiftly across the sky. (a)

The night falls and the stars circle (b)

the North Star.

The sun appears and disappears be- (c)

hind the whirling clouds.

At night the moon races through (d)

tumultuous clouds.

On the following day the sky darkens (e)

with thunderheads. There is a

cataract of lightning and THUNDER.

BACK ON TIME TRAVELLER 83

Quick flashes of lightning on the Time Traveller's

face followed by a series of SHORT THUNDERCLAPS.

TIME TRAVELLER'S VOICE

It became intoxicating. To see an

entire storm in a few seconds. -

So I pushed the lever on toward

even greater speed.

He applies greater pressure on the lever. The

HUMMING INCREASES. The alternate flashes of light

become a flicker almost too fast for the eye to

follow. He looks o.s. and sees:

EXT. TREE IN GARDEN - FULL SHOT - (ANIMATION) 84

Its shadows, cast by the sun and the moon, dance

around the trunk, faster and faster -- the moon

passing through its phases and the sun shifting

its position with the seasons.

BRANCHES - CLOSE SHOT - (ANIMATION) 85

Leaves grow quickly. Flowers appear and turn into

small green apples. Growing larger, they turn red

and fall. The leaves gradually become amber and

disappear. Suddenly the bare branches are covered

with snow for a few seconds, then again burst into

green leaves and blossoms.

EXT. DISTANT HILLSIDE - FULL SHOT - (ANIMATION) 86

Through the window we see the trees grow and

change like puffs of vapor -- now brown, now

green; they spread, shiver and pass away. Snow

flashes across the country, vanishes and is

followed by the brief bright green of Spring.

TIME TRAVELLER'S VOICE

Thirteen years had passed...fourteen...

fifteen...sixteen...and then...

Gradually soot, dirt and grime has built up on the

windows from the outside and darkness prevails.

CLOSE ON TIME TRAVELLER 87

His brow is beaded with perspiration. Alarmed,

he grabs the handle of the Time Machine.

INSERT:
THE DIALS 88

The hand of the Time Traveller quickly pulls back

the lever.

TIME TRAVELLER'S VOICE

In the year nineteen hundred seventeen...

I stopped.

The flickering of passing days and nights slows and

the HUMMING SOUND GRADUALLY DIMINISHES. The dial

stops on "13 September 1917".

TIME TRAVELLER - MED. SHOT 89

The CAMERA PULLS BACK as he steps out of his Machine

and glances with astonishment around the interior

of the laboratory. The once clear windows are now

dirty and boarded up. The world outside is

completely obscured from view. Only faint light

penetrating cracks indicates that it is day out-

doors. He crosses to the door. Dust falls as he

opens it and enters the corridor.

INT. LIBRARY 90

The dim light and the protective sheets covering

the furnishings previously seen, lend the room a

ghostly appearance. Tilted paintings reveal

faded spots on the walls and the dust is inches

thick here, as well as in the dining room seen

in the b.g. Cobwebs are everywhere.

The floor SQUEAKS on every footfall as the Time

Traveller, coming down the steps from the

corridor, enters the room and looks about.

THE SHELVES - TIME TRAVELLER'S P.O.V. 91

Among his books still rest the clocks, his once

prized possessions. There is NO TICKING now.

The hands of the clocks, each pair indicating a

different time, seem to guard the past.

CLOSE ON TIME TRAVELLER - MOVING SHOT 92

Curiosity takes the Time Traveller from the

library, through the ENTRANCE HALL, to the front

door. It refuses to respond to his attempt to

open it. Even when he uses his shoulder it does

not budge. He steps back and flings his full

weight against it and with a WRENCHING SOUND it

gives slightly. Under continued pressure the

nailed boards outside give way and a flood of

daylight illuminates the dusty interior. The

Time Traveller moves into the open driveway that

is now taken over by weeds.

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