Screenplay

CHANGES - TV DRAMA SCRIPT

EXT. ORCHID PATH - DAY

The screen shows the point of view of someone riding a bike

at speed, on a grass path and forest area. It is early
morning, the sun has not risen. The wind is blowing and the
bike chain is spinning.
There is a breaking in the tree line, an entrance to a
overgrown wooden area. On an entrance to the wooden area,
where the trees curve over, a red and white striped warning
tape is tied across, preventing entry. The speed and sound
of the bike slows down and then stops abruptly, the breaks
squeaking. Close on the bike, now left on the ground, the
wheel of the bike still spinning.

EXT. INSIDE ORCHID - DAY

A hand is seen grabbing the tape and lifting it up. The face
is not revealed but the person proceeds through cautiously,
their feet treading slowly on the ground covered with
leaves.
In a small crater in the woods, a rock is glowing a dark
blue and sizzling. Smoke slowly disperses into the air,
showing the rock could still be hot but is not burning. In
the background, shoes can be seen approaching the rock. The
person crouches down.
CUT TO: OPENING TITLES

INT. ALEXS BEDROOM - DAY

A towel is lifted quickly and the rock is revealed sat on a
pillow of mud, but is no longer glowing. Behind the rock,
three teens are sat crossed legged on the floor sat beside
each other. HARRY FLETCHER, GRACE MCKENZIE and ALEX WOODS,
three best friends since childhood are staring at the rock
with different expressions. Harry is wearing a confused,
almost disappointed expression, Grace looks proud, whereas
Alex is curiously surprised.

HARRY breaks the silence.

HARRY
(Gestures towards the object,
breaking the silence)
This is what you wanted to show
us?... A rock?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 2.

GRACE
Im telling you, it was glowing
when I saw it.
ALEX
(Looks to Grace, curious)
So, where exactly did you say you
got it?
GRACE
(Shrugs her shoulders lightly)
I found it...sort of.
ALEX, HARRY
(Speaking at the same time,
they both turn to look at her)
Where?

GRACE
(Slight hesitant in her voice)
Up by Brownley Woods. I was uh, out
that way-

ALEX
Brownley Woods, thats close to
that meteor was supposed to come
down, right?
GRACE
Maybe.
ALEX, HARRY
Grace...

GRACE
(innocently)
What?
HARRY
(Begins to stand up)
Well, have fun you rock nerds, Im
gonna go to get ready for football
training.
HARRY stands to leave, and goes to pick up his school bag.

ALEX
(serious)
Grace. This could be scientific
interest. Grace, listen. This-

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.

GRACE
(interrupts Alex)
This is finders keepers, thats
what it is.

HARRY
Hey, come on guys, its just a glow
in the dark rock.
HARRY leans forward to pick the rock up from where it is
placed under the towel. ALEX and GRACE lunge forward, still
sat down, to stop him.
ALEX
(urgent, reaches out)
Stop!

GRACE
(urgent, tries to stop Harry)
Hang on!
HARRY touches the rock. The lights immediately go out and a
car alarm goes off in the distance. HARRY immediately puts
the rock down, like he was caught with something he
shouldnt. HARRY sits back down, surprised and confused.
HARRY
(surprised, almost whispering)
Jesus.

The lights slowly flicker back on.

ALEX
(worried, points to the rock)
Seriously, what is this thing?
HARRY
(playing, gestures largely
with his hands)
Yeah, its like the rock of doom...
dun dunnn dunnnnnn!
ALEX rolls his eyes. GRACE stands up, and walks to the
window.
HARRY
(shrugs)
Or you just need to get your wiring
fixed. For a second there, it
almost had me going.
From downstairs, ALEXS mother shouts to them.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 4.

ALEXS MOTHER
(distantly asks, asking from
downstairs)
You guys okay up there?

ALEX
(runs a hand through his hair)
Were fine, Mum.
GRACE is stood near the window and peaks through the
curtain.

GRACE
Old man Jones alarm is going off.
Oh, and your dads coming up the
drive.

GRACE walks away from the window and stands near the two sat
down. The car alarm stops.
ALEXS MOTHER
You guys want any drinks?

ALEX
No thanks. Were good.
GRACE
Man, your mum makes the best hot
chocolate-

HARRY
(speaking across Grace)
Yeah, with the cream and the bits
of chocolate on top-

ALEX
(speaking above both of them,
voice stressed)
Has everybody lost their mind? You
know my Mums a scientist, right?
Its not going to take her long to
realize what is sitting on Graces
gym shirt is, and then her moral
code will mean she will feel duty
bound to contact the government.

GRACE
(jokingly)
She wouldnt snitch on me, Ive
always been her fave and shes
always wanted me as a daughter.
Shed snitch on you two though.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 5.

ALEX
That was before Caitlin was born,
now she has a daughter.
ALEX shakes his head and continues.

ALEX
(attempts to joke, but worry
in his voice)
Come on guys, my bedroom would look
like a scene from ET with all
officials around in space suits,
shining lights in our faces and my
sister crying and screaming in our
ears.
HARRY
Okay, okay. What do you want to do?
ALEX
(certain)
That thing has gotta go, whether it
had anything to do with the lights
just now, or not.
HARRY
Go where?
ALEX
(puts up quote marks)
Dont care. Lets just get rid of
it. We dont know what the rock of
doom has just done or started,
whether it is radioactive or
something...
GRACE
(sharply, adamant)
Its just a piece of rock from the
meteor shower, nothing more,
nothing less. In a couple of years
time when this is all been
forgotten about, I am going to sell
it to some collector for enough
money so that we can all change our
lives for the good.

Distant shouting can be heard from downstairs, words cant

be made out. ALEXS parents are arguing. They look towards
the door, listening.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 6.

HARRY
Man, I think thats the first time
Ive heard your parents arguing.
ALEX
(frowning, quiet)
Me too.
GRACE ruffles ALEXS hair, to pull him out of his thoughts.
GRACE
(small smile)
Come on you two, you can help me at
the bookies.
HARRY
Are we collecting or placing your
old mans bets?
GRACE pulls out a piece of paper from her pocket and looks
down at it.
GRACE
Placing. And by the looks on the
odds on this one, we wont need to
worry about collecting either.
The three of them head towards the door, switch off the
light and exit the room. The light comes back on by its own
and GRACE opens the door. She looks at the light with a
puzzled face, strides over to the table to cover the rock
with her gym shirt and places in rucksack. GRACE quickens
pace to catch up with the others, and switches off the light
as she goes.

END OF SCENE