The Time Machine Page #9

EXT. COTTAGE - LONG SHOT - DAY 93

The Time Traveller takes a deep breath and looks

curiously around. Everything is overgrown with

vines and flowers. The house is boarded up. He

starts to wander around, thinking, investigating.

(NOTE:
The house is situated upon a site with

distinctive landmarks that will stay

recognizable during his journey into

the future, thereby giving a clear

conception that time-travelling does

not involve geographical movement.

For instance, the sharp curve of the

River Thames in the distance will

remain even after the house itself

has disappeared.)

CLOSE ON TIME TRAVELLER 94

Suddenly the SOUND OF AN APPROACHING ENGINE

catches his attention. He looks puzzled toward:

EXT. ROAD - LONG SHOT - (DAY) 95

Coming up the hill on a narrow dusty road is a

car of 1916 vintage, with the HORN HONKING. The

CAMERA PANS with it, up to a SMALL STORE across

the street. The sign above the entrance reads:

"Filby's Department Store". A MANNEQUIN,

dressed for the period, is in the window. The

driver, in the uniform of a Second Lieutenant of

the First World War, steps out of the car. The

Time Traveller walks over to see his old friend,

sans moustache.

TWO SHOT 96

TIME TRAVELLER (glibly)

Going to a masquerade, David? You

look rather silly without your

moustache, old man!

FILBY (puzzled)

Were you addressing me, sir?

TIME TRAVELLER:

(positively)

Filby! I expected more of an

enthusiastic greeting from...

FILBY (smiles as he

interrupts)

I'm afraid you have me confused

with my father, sir. There was a

remarkable resemblance. - I'm

James Filby.

TIME TRAVELLER:

Was?

JAMES FILBY:

Were you a friend of father's?

TIME TRAVELLER:

Yes...yes...I've been away.

JAMES FILBY:

He was killed in the war...a year

ago.

TIME TRAVELLER (aghast)

No!...it can't be...

(then, as he realizes its

truth)

I'm sorry to hear that.

(pause, then hesitantly

points)

And the gentleman who used to live

across the street?

JAMES FILBY:

Oh, him. Some inventor who

disappeared around the turn of the

century. - If you're interested in

that house, forget it. You can't

buy it or even go inside.

TIME TRAVELLER:

Why is that?

JAMES FILBY:

My father was executor of the

inventor's estate and he refused to

liquidate it.

(adds with a smile)

I often chided him on that account,

but he felt positive that the owner

would return some day. - Some people

hereabouts think it's haunted.

(stares at Time Traveller

curiously, studying the

strange cut of his clothes)

Who are you, sir?

TIME TRAVELLER:

Just a stranger who once knew your

father.

JAMES FILBY:

I see.

(still curious at the Time

Traveller's abstract attitude)

Have you been at the front, sir?

TIME TRAVELLER:

Front? What front?

JAMES FILBY:

Why the war, of course.

TIME TRAVELLER:

What war?

JAMES FILBY:

Great heavens, man, don't you know

we've been at war with Germany

since nineteen fourteen? I thought

perhaps you had seen action in

France...or maybe...

(noticing confusion, adds

with a note of compassion)

Perhaps a cup of tea would make

you feel better. Won't you come in?

TIME TRAVELLER:

No...no, thank you.

JAMES FILBY:

You're sure you're alright, sir?

TIME TRAVELLER:

Yes, I'm quite alright.

JAMES FILBY (hesitantly)

Then...goodbye, sir.

The Time Traveller nods and James Filby slowly

turns and, glancing back repeatedly, enters the

Department Store.

CLOSE ON TIME TRAVELLER 97

He speaks almost to himself.

TIME TRAVELLER:

Goodbye, Jaime.

With the bitter taste of death for his old

friend, David Filby, he slowly walks across the

street and returns to the cottage.

INT. LABORATORY - FULL SHOT 98

The Time Traveller approaches the Machine, steps

up into the seat, throws his head back and grimly

shoves the lever forward.

SKYLIGHT - FULL SEOT - (STOCK AND ANIMATION) 99

ACCENT on MUSIC, then as the HUMMING OF THE TIME

MACHINE takes over, suddenly panes of GLASS BREAK

one after another, giving a clear view of a sky

full of SWIRLIING TURBULENT CLOUDS.

DISSOLVE TO:

CLOSE ON TIME TRAVELLER 100

The FLICKERS of days and nights, as well as the

HUMMING, INCREASES and DECREASES, in accordance

with his manipulation of the controls. Over this:

TIME TRAVELLER'S VOICE

As I went along, I gained experience

in handling the Machine. I found

that I could stop for a day, an hour,

or even for a second to observe, then

go ahead for a year or two. - Thus I

was able to see the changing world

in a series of glimpses.

Something catches his interest. He pulls back

the lever to SLOW DOWN.

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