Episode 2 Outline
Monopolized
Overview of Episode 2: Day 2
This episode follows directly from the previous Episode 1 ‘Storm in a Mike-Mug’
cliff-hanger. It contains information about Neon’s character and integrates the dilemmas/opportunities Neon could bring into the episode, either as the main
story line or as a subplot.
In the beginning of Episode 2 (as at the end of the previous Episode 1 cliff-hanger)
only the Ghosts know of Neon’s existence.
​
If you have been given a sample of this script, please click on the link to go to the 'Kings Cross' Section:
SCENE 1: EXT – FRONT OF BUTTON HOUSE – Day 2 [06:00]
Episode 2 beginning… Intro before the opening credits
4 to 5 exterior and interior images/shots in a rolling slideshow format of Button House,
[Out of Vision] a distant grandfather clock chimes down one of the many corridors, everything is silent and still in the early morning light…now the storm has passed.
The slideshow stops at a shot of Alison’s and Mike’s bedroom where Alison is just about to wake up.
Suddenly Mike jumps up in a fit of sudden terror.
​
Alison, still half asleep in bed:
Mike… not again!
Mike in a state of panic:
I can’t stand it!
All night I’ve been having the same dream, about that spooky ghost in the window,
I tell you, being here, in a house full of dead people is giving me the creeps!
Alison reluctantly sits up:
That business, with the storm yesterday and the car accident…
Mike interrupts:
…And DEAD people!?
Alison continues:
Yes… I’ve been telling you there are dead people here but they’re harmless, they not going ‘rogue’. Maybe you’re imagining them?
Mike interrupts:
That’s rich coming from you!
Alison continues:
OK…can you see any Ghosts now?
[Mike getting back into bed, carefully inspects the room]
Alison continues:
No?
That’s because there are no ghosts…
Alison whispers urgently:
…Mike!
There are…NO ghosts!
Mike half asleep:
…What…no…there are no…ghosts in the…[falls asleep]
​
1
Alison suddenly jumps up:
There are no ghosts! What time is it? [Looks at clock by bed] 06:15!!
I’ve slept in! The Ghosts are going to kill me!
Alison rushes to the window, opens it and shouts:
Coming!
[The following sequence of events and camera angles are in exactly the same order and positions as in Season 2 Episode 1 of Ghosts ‘The Gray Lady’ – Alison’s morning routine.
However, this time Alison is rushing…]
Alison then manically rushes into the bathroom, checks it, comes out again, hurriedly picks up a stopwatch from the bedside table and then back to the window.
Alison, leans out of the window [camera still in bedroom], looking at stopwatch:
Ready… Go!!
The camera angle changes to the peaceful view out of Alison’s Bedroom window… everything still and quiet…no one to be seen…not even the Captain ready for his morning run!
Alison quickly withdraws from the window, seemingly unaware of the eerie stillness and the missing Captain, she starts her morning routine.
Camera changes to the hall/corridor outside the bedroom
Alison quickly sets up the gramophone:
Morning, Thomas!
Alison, moves on out of the room and on with her routine. There is no response from Thomas… as there is no Thomas to be seen.
Finally Alison reaches the reading room,
Alison:
Sorry for the delay.
Camera shows a close up of Alison walking down the line of books and turning a page of each one in turn.
Slowing down, Alison spins back round to survey her fever-pitch rush through the Ghosts' morning activities...
Alison:
So…where did we get to?... [ROUTINE SHOULD TAKE 25sec]
​
The Camera pans round; Alison is alone in the room! No Ghosts.
Feeling slightly panicked,
Alison shouts:
Pat!
Kitty!?
Alison rushes out of the room, in the direction she had come.
The scene changes to the exterior of the house.
Alison shouts [Out-of-View]:
Robin?!!!
​
Opening Scene Ends (2mins 33sec) – Cuts to Opening Credits (20secs)
2
SCENE 2: INT – Bedroom – Day 2 [06:30]
After the opening credits, the scene starts from where it left off.
Alison calls [Out of Vision]:
Mike!
Alison rushes into her bedroom, Mike is asleep.
Alison loudly whispers:
Mike!...MIKE!!...
The Ghosts are gone!!
Mike drowsily:
What?
Alison cautiously:
Mike… I think the Ghosts are gone; they’re nowhere to be seen!
Mike, sits up wide awake:
Do you think there, like, gone for good?
Alison:
Well, no…
of course not…
I mean they’re probably still here, just…
Mike excitedly interrupts:
Invisible..?
Alison:
Oh no… no, they couldn’t have… they’ve got to be…
[A COLD WIND BLOWS CAUSING THE BEDROOM DOOR TO SWING OPEN]
Alison eagerly:
Do you think so?
Mike:
I’m positive.
Expert, remember, of being stuck in a house with a gang of spooky dead guys, that I can’t see.
Alison sits down slowly:
I can’t believe it!
I hoped this day would come, but… it seems too sudden, does it seem sudden?
Mike…?
Mike wakes up again:
What?... well, it’s been a year… perhaps you’re on the mend? Finally…
Just enjoy the moment!
​
3
Alison:
Yes, yes I should, you’re right.
You know, [PAUSE] this may be the longest I’ve been alone…[PAUSE]
…and I shouldn’t feel even a teeny-tiny bit guilty that I’m no longer going to have them constantly in my face or that I’m probably never going to see them again?
Mike:
What are you saying?
Alison:
Well, perhaps I should just go and make absolutely certain first…
before we start celebrating?
[LONG PAUSE]
If they are gone.
Oh, I don’t know… I think I’m really going to miss them!
Mike puzzled:
Yeh!?
Ok…you do that, I think I’ll stay here and have a lie in, in an officially certified
‘Ghost Free House’!
Alison teasingly:
Well don’t get too comfortable…
Just because I can’t see them, [Alison leans down to Mike’s ear] doesn’t mean they’re not still here!
Alison walks out of the room.
Mike calls out:
“What do you think they’d be doing?!”
​
Scene Ends (1mins 29sec) – Cuts to: ‘Quiet’ Exterior of Button House
4
SCENE 3: INT – Drawing Room – Day 2 [06:35]
An EXTERIOR shot/image of Button House.
The sound of Military Drumming and an argument between the Captain and Neon breaks the stillness:
Captain:
Now you look here! [Out of View]
[Cut to: the Events/Meeting Room]
[In View] This is our house and we were here first!!
Neon:
But we agreed, and I won fair and square!
Captain:
That doesn’t matter and as Captain I am the ranking officer here!
[The Captain gestures to his Pips on his shoulder]
Neon:
Just because you’re carrying round a great big chip on your shoulder, it doesn’t make you superior to me...and there’s nothing you can do about it!
Captain:
Right! That is quite enough of your lip!
Either you forfeit your go or leave this house with immediate effect!
Neon:
No!
You have the problem, you leave.
Captain:
How dare you...! Do you have no respect for your elders and betters?!
Neon:
Elders and What? If it comes down to ‘age’ then you should be respecting me!
Captain:
I’ve had Enough! It’s time to sort this out once and for all...
Neon:
Good I-Dea!! Who are you to say you’re better?
I’ve met thousands of people who think they’re better than everyone else.
So, forgive me if I don’t bow down to appearances.
However, prove me wrong...
Let’s hear why you are ‘better’
(52sec)
5
The Captain stutters for a moment and then formulates a plan:
Captain (sings):
I .....am the ve-ry mo-del of a mo-dern Ma-jor-Gen-er-al…
[Intercut: Alison creeping down a corridor (upstairs), it is completely silent.]
Alison calls:
Captain?
[Intercut: Back to the Captain.]
Captain continues (sings):
I've in-for-ma-tion vege-ta-ble, an-i-mal, and min-er-al…
[Intercut: Alison reaches a door and opens it (upstairs), it is still completely silent.]
Alison calls in:
Anyone?!
[Split screen: Captain continues his singing on the left… Alison continues making her way through the empty house on the right.]
Captain continues (sings):
I know the Kings of Eng-land, and I quote the fights his-tor-i-cal
From Ma-ra-thon to Wa-ter-loo, in or-der cat-e-gor-i-cal.....
[Split Screen Ends, only Captains side remains to fill the whole screen.]
Neon jumps-in with the second verse of the ‘Element Song’, to the same tune,
stopping the Captain completely in his tracks
Neon (sings):
“Eu-rop-i-um, Zir-con-i-um, Lu-te-ti-um, Van-ad-i-um
And Lan-than-um and Os-mi-um and Ast-a-tine and Rad-i-um
And Gold, Prot-ac-tin-i-um and In-di-um and Gall-i-um (inhale)
And I-o-dine and Thor-i-um and Thul-i-um and Thal-li-um....
A puzzled Captain questionably repeats Neon’s Last sentence
Captain repeats:
I-o-dine and Thor-i-um and Thul-i-um and Thal-li-um?
Then all the ghosts start echo singing in lyrical tone to one another:
Ghosts (singing):
I-o-dine and Thor-i-um and Thul-i-um and Thal-li-um?
[Intercut: Alison upstairs hears a distant indistinct murmuring.]
Alison smiles:
I knew it!
[Intercut: back to the Ghosts.]
6
Ghosts (singing):
and “I-o-dine and Thor-i-um and Thul-i-um and Thal-li-um?
Neon repeats ‘speaking the lyrics’ triumphantly:
I-o-dine and Thor-i-um and Thul-i-um and Thal-li-um!
The Ghosts lean in to see how the Captain can top that.
Captain (stammers and sings):
I'm very good at in-te-gral and dif-fer-en-tial cal-cu-lus;
I know the sci-en-tif-ic names of be-ings an-i-mal-cu-lous:
In short, in mat-ters vege-ta-ble, an-i-mal, and min-er-al,
I am the ve-ry mod-el of a mod-ern Ma-jor-Gen-er-al......
Neon jumps in with the last verse of the Element song, before RAMPING UP THE CHALLENGE by jumping into Bugs Bunny’s rendition of the Barber of Seville.
Neon (sings)
There's Sul-phur, Cal-i-for-ni-um and Ferm-i-um, Berk-e-lium
And al-so Men-del-e-vi-um, Ein-stein-i-um, Nob-e-lium
And Ar-gon, Kryp-ton, Ne-on, Rad-on, Xen-on, Zinc and Rho-di-um
And Chlor-ine, Car-bon, Co-balt, Cop-per, Tung-sten, Tin and So-di-um.....
NOW!....
[Neon SHOUTS IN EXCITEMENT]
How a-bout a nice close shave, teach your whis-kers too be-have;
Lots of la-ther, lots of soap, please hold still don’t be a dope;
[This next line Neon leans menacingly towards the Captain...Captain steps/leans back]
Now we’re rea-dy for the SCR-AAAAP-ING!
[Neon then appears behind the Captain causing him to spin round]
There’s no use to try es-ca-ping;
Yell and scream and rant and rave; it’s no good, you need a shave...
[On the word ‘shave’ Neon pulls out, from nowhere, a glove and uses the glove to hit the Captain around his face]
Captain feels the pain from the glove in shock, as he hasn’t felt pain or touch for so long:
Captain:
Oooh, ouch, ouch, ooh, ouch, oooh, oooh, ouch!!”
[alarmed but then amazed he can feel the gloves striking him]
Neon sings triumphantly:
There...you’re nice and clean...al-though your face looks as though it’s gone through a
ma-chine!”
[The Captain bursting with anger tries to interrupt]
Neon continues singing oblivious:
Sup-er-cal-i-frag-il-is-tic-ex-pi-a-li-do-cious
E-ven though the sound of it is some-thing quite a-tro-cious
If you say it loud e-nough, you'll al-ways sound pre-co-cious
I am the ve-ry mo-del of a mod-ern Ma-jor-Gen-er-al!!!!!
(Song ends on a crescendo)
Neon exhausted, triumphant and panting:
And that...is why...I get to go...FIRST!!
At this point the camera zooms out to reveal a table with a Monopoly board on it.
Neon rolls the dice, moves the counter and says:
Kings Cross...Buy!!
(1min 41sec)
Scene 3 Ends (2mins 33sec) – Cut to: Scene 4
7
SCENE 4: INT – Hall outside Drawing Room – Day 2 [06:38]
Captain storms out of the Drawing Room door.
Camera pans to follow him, Captain mutters himself.
Captain:
I’ve never been so humiliated in my life!
I know what’s going on… that Neon is trying to monopolize the whole household against me!
​Humphrey:
Well, if you’re asking my opinion, in my experience if there’s a bit of a power struggle leaders tend to favour the decapitation method!
Captain jumps when he realises his comments have been overheard by Humphrey’s Head which is on the floor opposite the door.
Captain turns on his heel, and returns to the Drawing Room:
Power Struggle?
We’ll see about that!
Humphrey:
Hello, Hello? Oh, don’t leave me on a cliff hanger! Can I come and watch?
​
Scene Ends (2mins 33sec) – Cut to: Next Scene
8
SCENE 5: INT – Drawing Room – Day 2 [06:45]
Ghosts + Neon continue to ‘play’ monopoly. Neon enables each ghost to physically roll the dice + move their counter – this introduces the idea to the audience that Neon has special abilities to move objects as Neon can use 'electrical conductance/magnetism' to enable each ghost, one at a time, to feel touch and move objects by themselves IF Neon touches them.
Kitty is finishing her go, Neon is also finishing a demonstration, using Kitty’s ‘go’ as an example of how Neon can help/allow the ghosts to play the game.
Julian is the Banker, and it’s his turn to move BUT he INSISTS he doesn’t need any powers or help from Neon to roll + move his counter, as HE can do this himself.
Julian painfully tips the dice container over to spill the dice onto the monopoly board.
He gets a DOUBLE 6! So he has to move his counter 12 places.
Everyone groans!
At this moment, Alison bursts into the room...
​
Alison:
This is where you all are!
WHO was singing Bugs Bunny’s Barber of Seville?
All the Ghosts look or point towards Neon (camera angle pans towards Neon, zooming in).
​
Neon is sat in a 'Wingback Chair' reading the Monopoly Instructions, on hearing Alison's outburst, looks up surprised and stares directly at Alison.
[Camera angle widens to encompass the whole room, revealing to the audience that only Neon and Alison are in the room together, no Ghosts can be seen in the room at all, at this point...PAUSE...]
​
Neon:
errr...me..?...Hello?
[Camera angle cuts to all the ghosts rushing to surround Alison]
All the ghosts rush towards Alison and start saying different things.
All the Ghosts at once:
“They just appeared from nowhere.”
“They don’t belong here...give them their marching orders!”
“Oh, please can we keep it!”
“It’s the work of the Devil it is!”
“It’s going to bend my silverware and turn Button House into a Graveyard”
​etc....
Alison:
Hang on... Please...!!
[The camera angle shifts again to only show Alison and Neon in an empty room.
Alison continues to talk and be interrupted by the non visible ghosts.
Neon looks around the room, shuffling uncomfortably at Alison's behaviour - ghosts are not visible to audience at this point]
Alison:
Thank you!
Right, who are you and what are you doing here in our house? [directed at the ‘stranger’]
9
Neon a bit nervous, smiles and confidently says:
Ooh...I’m Neon, I’m a traveller,
I didn’t mean to intrude,
it’s just that I got lost and when the storm started, I needed to find some shelter,
I stumbled across this house in the dark and it looked empty...
I’m afraid, I may’ve broken in. Sorry about that.
Alison:
Right, well... I’m Alison...hold on!
You broke into our house?
Where, which window?!
Neon:
Ohh, No, Don’t worry, the window’s fine
I only broke in via the door...
Alison:
You broke through the door – how?”
[A flashback of how Neon broke though the door – Neon does the voice over]
Neon:
Well, I went round the house for ages looking for a door.
When I finally found one I got my knife, I cut an outline of me, popped the wood out, walked through and then STUCK it back together again.
Simple as that!
[Alison confused by this answer. Ghosts now visible to audience...Fanny interrupts]
Fanny:
You clumsy oath!!
The doors in this house have been here for centuries, Alison I demand that you kick this ruffian off the premises before they do any more damage!
Neon:
Oh come on Fanny, it’s not as bad as all that. And besides, it’s the back door – NEXT To THE bins. PLUS it’s got wood worm.
Fanny crosses her arms:
As I’ve said before, you’re to call me Lady Button....
Alison:
Hang on, HANG ON!
YOU CAN SEEEEE HER?
Neon seriously:
Well yes? I can see you can’t I?
​
Alison:
Can I, just ask you...how many people can you see in this room?
​
Neon:
Err..bit strange to be asked...well there’s:
Pat and Kitty,
Mary, Thomas, Robin
The Captain...obviously,
Fanny, sorry Lady Button, you, me,
nine...
Oh... and of course Julian… ​[Neon turns and points at Julian when they say this]
10!
Everyone turns to Julian who is still sat with his back to them, at the Monopoly board straining, trying to finish his ‘go’!
[Alison’s face suddenly drops – with a sudden realisation]
10
Alison:
Ooh God NO!!!... the Car Crash…
I don’t know how to tell you this... I'm so sorry to tell you, but I think you may be...dead....
​
Neon:
Me?... Dead?... That’ll be the day!
What an odd thing to say? Are you dead?
Huh?... I’m just a traveller... I travel from place to place, country to country, world to...
​
Alison:
Right...! Can I ask, have you had a bump on the head recently, or a car accident, along the lane, perhaps?
Captain:
Alison, a car accident? Where? When? Why wasn't I informed of this?
​
Neon:
A bump on the head?!...Yes, thousands of times...I’ve lost count!
No, no car accident, as I was saying....I travel from world to world...
Alison nods knowingly, not listening to Neon's reply [below]:
Yep! You’ve banged your head BIG TIME! But you're dead too...just my luck...another one...[turns to Captain] outside, bottom of drive...yesterday, 1100hrs
Neon:
Besides, I’ve just landed here from my dimension a little while ago, journeyed here and met you all... I could hardly have died in such a short time, if that’s what you’re thinking?
…I would have noticed, ha ha!!
Alison:
So, err, let me get this straight: You haven't been in the car accident outside yesterday?
Neon:
​Nope?!
Alison:
So, you’re a traveller?
Neon:
​Yep..!
Alison:
From?
Neon:
Another dimension...
Kitty:
Oh how exciting!
​
Neon to Kitty:
YES that’s right..! I don’t normally tell anyone this, it seems to make them...uneasy...but you seem to be....
[NEON CHANGES SUBJECT RAPIDLY on seeing Alison’s facial reaction]
And, if I may say, if there’s anything I can do to repay all your hospitality,
I’d gladly do it?
Captain:
You can leave this house!
Pat says to the Captain quietly:
Steady on.
11
Neon:
Yes, you’re quite right Captain...I can...OR...This is a pretty big house I can paint, fetch, carry, insert electrics, do some plumbing and welding if you want?
[Staring at Captain to antagonise him of the prospect that Neon will be ‘hanging around a bit longer]
Alison sceptically:
You can do all that?
Neon:
Oh yes!
Alison:
Well, nice to meet you...that would be very useful. Emm, can I offer you breakfast, you must be tired and hungry from your...journey?
​
Kitty:
Oh lovely, if we feed it...
​
Mary:
We'll be STUCKS with it!
​
Scene Ends (3mins) – Cut to: Next Scene 6
12
WORK IN PROGRESS
SCENE 6: INT – Kitchen – Day 2 - 07:30
​
SUB-SCENE PLOT IDEAS OVERVIEW TO INCORPORATE DURING THE 'MONOPOLIZED' EPISODE
Mike is in the kitchen making breakfast with radio on full blast, dancing to the latest track.
​
Alison bursts in, and tells Mike about Neon, the new dead person from the car crash.
​
They debate how this could be possible.
​
-
Mike is convinced Neon is an intruder so needs to leave to secure the property;
-
Alison is convinced she is experiencing how new ghosts arrive at Button House, i.e. Death occurs within Button Boundary, body turns to Ghost and is incorporated into the house ghosts
-
Mike recounts the disappearance of his mug and how he saw it move and drop to the floor during the storm, so perhaps that was after Neon broke in as an intruder, playing tricks on Mike's nerves - Mike was going to sort this intruder out
-
Hastily, Alison states that Neon appears to be a builder, which would be very useful regardless of whether it's a ghost or an intruder - so perhaps we could invite Neon to stay
-
Mike, incredulous, grabs his keys, slurps his coffee from 'his mug', demanding to know which room this 'Neon' is in
-
Radio interrupts them: "Police are advising members of the public not to approach an escaped prisoner. A massive police hunt is currently underway for a prisoner who escaped from High Mead High Security Prison yesterday evening. Police are advising the public not to approach the convict and dial 999 if...
-
Mike and Alison stare at one another...
-
Alison states 'That's over 50 miles away, that's impossible for anyone to travel here so quickly'
-
Mike retorts 'and your suggestion is that it's a Build-a-Ghost, that might be quite useful to have around the house. Yep, that's far more logical than my suggestion'.
-
Alison retorts: 'Well if it is a mad axe murder at least they can see ghosts like me, which will prove I'm not mad at last! I'm going to find Neon...
-
Mike: 'No you're not' - you stay here and lock the kitchen door, I'll go and find the break-in point - if I find it I'm calling the Police
-
Mike leaves via the back door.
Scene Ends (15sec) – Cut to: Next Scene
13
WORK IN PROGRESS
SCENE 7: EXT – Back of Button House – Day 2 [9am]
Overview of SCENE Suggestion Plot 7:
The episode continues the ‘haunting’ theme from the previous episode 'A Storm in a Mike Mug';
Mike has left the kitchen via the back door, looking for where the break-in occurred.
SCENE Suggestion Plot 7:
Neon sees a stranger (or 'Mike') outside by the metal bins.
Mike inspects the window frames for signs of the break-in, it seems to Neon that this person is acting abnormally and is possible trying to break into the house.
Neon calls:
Hello there...!
Mike hears the voice, looks round and sees no one so turns to continue walking with urgency to the next window frame
Neon calls:
Excuse me...?!
Again, Mike looks round, more warily to identify where the voice is coming from. Mike gets scared, possibly thinking it’s the intruder...or one of the Ghosts.
Neon is now right next to Mike and as this is the first interaction with Neon and Mike, Neon doesn’t realise that Mike can’t see them – so Neon believes that Mike is ignoring them on purpose.
[Neon puts their hand on Mike’s shoulder]
Neon shouts:
Hi there? - What are you doing?!
Neon instantly becomes visible to Mike, which causes Mike to panic and run into the house (tripping over the bins as he goes).
Mike reaches the back door (which Neon had broken into last night), Mike rushes inside and slams the door with gusto...the door promptly falls apart the moment it is slammed revealing the ‘person outline’ hole in the door (carved by Neon when they broke in) – this fuels Mike’s panic - as it looks as if the invisible person who was chasing him, was capable of running through doors!
Scene Ends (35sec) – Cut to: Next Scene
14
WORK IN PROGRESS
SUB-SCENE 8: INT – Drawing Room/Any other room – Day 2 - am
Alison ignores Mike's instruction to 'stay put' in the kitchen, if Neon is an intruder, and not a new dead person, who can confirm that the ghosts exist, then Alison's bump to the head has nothing to do with her ability to see the ghosts...and the ghosts actually do exist.
​
Alison finds 'Bumps into' Neon on the way to the drawing room. Alison grills Neon as to whether they are a mad axe murderer who has escaped from a prison - denied; or a new dead ghost - denied. Neon is frantic to tell Alison about the stranger - After a moment Alison relieses that Neon is describing Mike Neon states they have seen/met Mike, but Mike didn't seem as if he could see Neon.
Alison and Neon try to work out why Mike is the only one who can’t seen Neon
Neon tries to explain why only the Ghosts and Alison can see Neon by pulling down a chalk board from the room’s ceiling and does an over the top scientific explanation. At the end of the long winded explanation the Ghosts and Alison are ‘stunned’/dazed and glazed from the talk but Robin walks up to the Chalk Board examines it carefully, then declares that he understands everything!
i.e. as Neon is in the Ghosts’ dimension (visibly) Mike will not be able to see Neon at all; however when Neon is inhabiting Mike and Alison’s dimension, Mike will be able to hear everything Neon says, he will also be able to see the ‘aftermath’ of whatever Neon’s doing, along with the things Neon gets up to with the ghosts...but if Neon is able to touch Mike, it will instantly pull Mike into the dimension that Neon is in, for as long or as short as the connection lasts!
Throughout the episode, Neon will be experimenting with how to be seen by both the Ghosts and Mike, which involves doing complex calculations on the chalkboard which can appear anywhere, from any direction.
Scene Ends (20sec) – Cut to: Next Scene
15
SCENE Plot Suggestion 9: INT – Drawing Room – Day
Overview of this plot scene suggestion:
Another suggestion plot theme of this episode, is that Alison tasks Neon to keep the Ghosts busy whilst Alison deals with workmen/DIY repairs to the house.
Neon (who is just happy to be staying in one place and not having to leave this interesting situation), jumps at the opportunity, with childish curiosity, to find out as much as possible about the Ghosts lives and especially to discover what the Ghosts can do as ghosts, i.e. how they walk through walls and any other supernatural powers.
So in that spirit, Neon uses all of their dimensional ‘magnetic’ abilities to allow the Ghosts to experience touch, allowing the Ghosts free rein to do whatever they want (e.g. Thomas wants to physically write down poems for Alison and Fanny wants to put right everything in the house that she doesn’t approve of, starting with rearranging the ‘cutlery drawers’).
However, the Ghosts do not want to be answering all of Neon’s questions or to take part in some fun experiments and as Neon can only bring one ghost at a time into Alison’s dimension (to re-experience ‘touch’), it quickly causes a queuing bedlam of impatient ghosts - all of them demanding that Neon should help them do their activity first!
Neon, with a spark of annoyance at deciding that 'ghost behaviour' is selfish after being pulled from ‘pillar to post’; decides to ration/remove this ability from the ghosts. With that Neon instantly disappears, surprising the Ghosts...as everything they were doing suddenly drops from their hands.
This inconvenience outrages the ghosts causing the more power hungry Ghosts to cook up a plan to capture Neon so that they can persuade them to reconsider reinstating the ability of 'touch' to them all on a rota system.
SCENE Suggestion 9:
Captain calls an emergency meeting:
Captain:
Right, listen up everyone.
This Neon character has come here, completely destroyed the balance of this household and disregarded my authority...And now they’re withholding vital resources; which is our basic right to have access to!
Fanny:
They had no right to do this to us!
Thomas:
The very air of my poems, have been dashed on the rocks of degradation.
Captain:
So, we need to strike while the iron is hot! AGREED? I suggest we form 3 lines of attack to capture the enemy insurgent and force them to co-operate!
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Pat:
Well if I might just put in my 2 pennies worth, we were a bit much, though, weren’t we? Give them some space and they’ll come back, right as rain; that’s what I say.
Captain:
Look! I don’t want to make this about me Pat, but if I were you, I would be jolly annoyed that all the glorious new CLUB activities are being put ‘on hold’ at the discretion of this young ruffian...?
Pat:
Well, yes and I was looking forward to them...
Captain:
Exactly, we all were, and now that’s been forcibly removed from us. That is why we have to act fast.
Mary:
How’s we to catch ‘em then?
Captain:
Alison has got Neon doing errands around the house, all we have to do is catch this ‘Neon’ ‘unawares’, grab them and bring them back here... UNDERSTOOD?
Kitty:
Ohooo. It’s just like Oliver’s Twist!
Captain:
No Kitty, it isn’t anything like ‘Oliver Twist’... for one thing, we aren’t a bunch of desperado criminals!
Kitty:
Are we going to... KIDNAP them?
Captain:
Well...
Kitty:
TAKE them away from their SPECIAL errand?
Captain:
Oh...well when you say it like that...
Mary:
BENDS their will to our ways and do our bidding like a mangy stray!?
[Silence - Everyone stares at Mary.]
Mary:
Welllll...I sees the film as well y’knows!
Kitty:
Great!
All we need now, is a dangerous mad-capped BRUTAL figure to play Bill Sikes.
[Hugging herself ecstatically.]
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Fanny:
Silence Kitty, where are we going to find such a horrible creature such as that?
[They all look at Robin except Fanny + Kitty]
[Captain Claps + rubs hands together...]
Captain:
Yup. That’s decided then – we’ll use Robin’s Expert Hunting knowledge to our advantage!
[Captain looks at Kitty, Pat + Mary]
Pat, Kitty, Mary, You distract our adversary, whilst Robin goes in for the kill!”
Robin:
Hey! Do ‘ME’ get a say in this?
Captain:
No!
NOW...We all know what we’re doing - Yes?
Good!
Move Out!
All the Ghosts leave the room and pass Humphrey (head and body), who had been listening behind the door.
Humphrey:
Err, guys!
Do you need my help at all?
Guys...GUYS!?...I’m sure they’ll need me at some point...
Captain:
I’m really sure we won’t [Captain’s voice echoes down the corridor]
​
Scene Ends (2mins16sec) – Cut to: Next Scene
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SCENE 10: 'Mission Impossible': INT – Various Rooms within Button House – Day
Overview of this episode scene: MISSION IMPOSSIBLE?
Under the instruction of the Captain and to the theme of ‘Mission Impossible’ theme song style - the Ghosts try every spy heist trick in the book to catch a totally oblivious Neon. Neon had by this time persuaded Alison to allow them to do some odd jobs, all the while insisting that they are keeping all the Ghosts occupied.
Note: The shorter this scene is, the better the comedy timings will become. This scene takes advantage of ‘fast-pace, slow-motion, visible sections’ followed directly with ‘invisible, normal speed, slow sections’ to incorporate Mike’s ability to not see the Ghosts/Neon but can see/ hear the aftermath – similar to the ‘Night and the Museum’ film with the miniature characters having a manic scene then the camera pulls out to show the same scene from a distance where everything is quiet and still.
SCENE Suggestion 9: Mission Improbable...! [3 Mins or less]
The Captain carefully makes his way down the wall of the corridor, followed by Robin, Fanny and Mary.
The small band of intrepid hunters, slowly make their way down the corridor (on the left hand side) they are close to the stairwell (Thomas and Pat are in position).
Neon can be heard in the background, the Captain rolls across the floor of the corridor and get’s close to the other right- hand-side wall… checks that the coast is clear and beckons Robin across.
Robin awkwardly rolls across and lands further down the hall (on the Captain’s left – nearer the camera).
Fanny primly walks across the corridor, taking Robin’s place, followed by Mary, who loudly over extenuates tiptoeing across.
The Captain pushes Mary and Fanny quickly round him (from the left to the right) to the other side of the wall… very quickly he rolls Robin so fast that Robin gets spun out of control and rolls through the wall.
Fanny and Mary have continued to make their way down the corridor (towards the staircase).
Neon starts to make their way to the stairwell from the opposite direction, heading towards the Captain, who signals to Pat and Thomas…
​
The Camera changes to an unclear image, then slowly, Thomas starts gliding up the screen (from bottom to top – similar to the credits) – floating like a Ghost ought to!
The Camera then rotates 180° to show that Thomas is actually being suspended upside down from the banister (at the top of the stairs – in a style similar to the volt scene in Mission Impossible)
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As Thomas gracefully glides smoothly down, the ‘Camera’ shifts to the top of the stair banister where Pat, straining, is lowering Thomas down from the banister by his feet; whilst Kitty is holding onto Pat.
Just then the Ghost Pigeon lands on the banister next to Pat.
Kitty:
Oh look, he wants to be friends!
The Pigeon starts to walk up the banister towards Pat... Pat tries to shoo the pigeon away.
Below, Thomas is being jolted about as Neon is walking past – Above, the Pigeon has landed on Pat’s head!
Pat:
Get off, Get OFF… SHOO!
Kitty:
I’m going to call him – Pat… Pat the Pigeon!
Suddenly Pat’s fingers slip and Thomas falls to the ground just after Neon walks under and past…
Further up the corridor, the Captain leans out to see if Thomas was successful, seeing Neon coming down the corridor, he quickly jolts backwards to where he left the wall – however the force forces him to fall backward through the wall and into the room he spun Robin.
​
Captain:
Go for it Robin!
Robin runs across the room and slow-motion rugby tackle style through the room wall into the corridor beyond. Neon, who was walking up the corridor suddenly stops, as one of the bag's handles they were carrying, slips.
Neon bends down, just as Robin jumps through the wall misses and then continues right across the corridor and out through the second exterior wall.
Now it’s a free-for-all as all the Ghosts try their luck, jumping through walls, Thomas jumps through and lands on Pat.
Even Fanny has a go. Fanny waits until Neon is passing close by a wall then reaches through the wall – grabs onto what she thinks is Neon, pulls it back through the wall and discovers it’s Kitty – who is grinning ecstatically.
Fanny:
Ohh, No...Not you! [Fanny dismissively pushes Kitty back through the wall]
Camera changes to Mike who is walking passed the corridor...all is calm [camera shows no Ghosts or Mission Impossible music].
Camera shifts back to the Ghost-infested hallway/room, Fanny tries again reaches out and this time success, she pulls Neon in and Neon’s head hits the wall with an “OWH!”
[Neon is not a ghost so cannot pass through solid objects]
​
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Mike, all alone, hears the “OWH!” and cautiously moves in to investigate.
Neon, after having their face squished by the wall, is released and walks down the hall with the Captain + Robin in hot pursuit.
In the hall way, Mike then hears the sound of Neon’s footsteps coming closer and closer... Mike quickly leaves.
The camera tunes back to the action, as Neon walks down the corridor, Robin goes for a rugby tackle, the Captain jumps through the wall and then Kitty jumps across from the opposite direction.
Kitty:
Wheeeee!
Neon walks into a room, all the Ghosts are either exhausted or in a pile on the ground.
Suddenly from out of nowhere Humphrey comes running into the room behind Neon with arms out stretched.
Humphrey:
Don’t worry guys, I’ve got them!
He almost reaches Neon but just before he does...he isn’t looking where he’s going and falls though a hole in the floor leaving his head on the top floor, on the opposite side of the hole... his body lands on it’s feet on the floor below and then continues to run straight into Julian knocking him over (Julian is still persistently playing Monopoly).
With nothing else to do Humphrey calls out to the other ghosts
Humphrey:
I’ve still got eyes on target!
Scene Ends (no more than 3mins – it may be shorter) – Cut to: Next Scene
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SCENE Suggestion 11: INT – Upstairs Room of Button House – Day
Thomas is walking past a room when he sees Neon on their own; he creeps up behind Neon, trips and knocks Neon to the ground.
Neon:
Great you found me!
Now then, it’s your turn to hide and I’ll come and find you.
[Neon stands up and tries to naturally walk away, but Thomas is having none of it]
Thomas:
Certainly, not! [he composes himself]
Do you know what I’ve been through these last few hours, its unspeakable!
A gentleman of my talents should not be so crudely Hung, NAY, dangled from a top floor bannister!
It is…Unseemly!
Neon:
I can imagine that must have been very undignified...
[Neon still trying to edge away]...
Although I did sit and watch that...
Your face... [Neon starts to chuckle]...before you hit...[chuckles some more] You should have seen it.... CLASSIC!
Thomas:
How dare you mock my indignity!
If it weren’t for the fact that I still have to capture my feelings for fair Alison,
[and with that he spies an ink and quill on an adjacent table],
I would make you eat a fist full of... TULIPS... err I mean THISTLES, without a moments haste!
Now pass me that quill! [Neon has their back to the quill and ink table].
Neon:
Oh no... Don’t start ordering me around or I’ll be off
[And with that Neon moves out of Thomas’ way].
Thomas moves over to the table he seizes the quill, whilst still making contact with Neon and hastily tries to dip it into the ink, succeeds, then reverently enjoys this magic moment...before realising that there is no PAPER to be seen. Neon allows the ‘physical connection’, which enables Thomas to hold the quill for the 1st time in a century – looking on at the spectacle of Thomas’ desperation.
Thomas leans over the table to reach into a drawer, whilst fiercely ‘clinging’ on to Neon to maintain the ‘physical connection’, knocking over the ink pot, which spills over the table and pools on the floor.
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Thomas bends down, contorting to keep hold of Neon, whilst carefully dipping the quill in the pooled ink; Thomas then noticed the freshly painted wall beside him (Mike had recently completed) and with that starts writing his poem directly on to the wall – reading out loud as he went…
Thomas:
​
Pleading for your love
Death and damnation shakes this wall…
Neon starts to take an interest...
Neon:
How about...
‘Your Shadowy figure which keeps us apart!...
Thomas thinks for a second then.
Thomas:
….Doth turn the bright hue of dawn into dusk?
Neon:
Not bad, now what? We need a name for this?...
How about – “The Writing’s on the Wall”?...
Thomas:
Yes! Brilliant, just Brilliant…
Thomas starts to write the name above the poem and the ink starts to drip down from the quill, creating streaks of ink. Leaning back to inspect his work Thomas reveals that he has left a smeared hand mark down the side of the wall as well.
[Unbothered by the ‘vandalism’]
Thomas starts to read the poem poetically:
'The writings on the wall'
Pleading for your love
Death and damnation shakes this wall
Your Shadowy figure which keeps us apart…..
OR
Built by those to keep us apart
For you will never love me…
[Thomas is rambling and crossing words out on the wall as he goes]
Passing by the room, Mike, who is still shaken, hears the poem being read out loud and peeps in to the room warily.
​
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But no-one is in the room until Mike ‘sees’ the newly painted ‘white’ wall dripping with black fluid ‘tears’ running down it. He moves closer to inspect it and sees … the Dripping Words and the ‘HAND’ print streaks…
Mike Shouts:
ALISOOOONNNNN!!!
Thomas and Neon spin round to just catch Mike tearing out of the room in horror:
Neon:
OHhh Great!
Thomas:
No! Don’t get Alison now!
My poem is still yet to be completed
On the word ‘completed’ Thomas flings out his arms and accidentally knocks a large vase flying.
Neon and Thomas instinctively lunge for the falling vase – still connected, Thomas grabs it inches from the floor!
Thomas cries:
YES!!
Jumps up, breaks the connection with Neon and the vase falls out of his hands and crashes to the floor.
Neon grins:
Wow, what an Encore…we should do gigs!
Scene Ends (no more than 1min 30sec) – Cut to: Next Scene
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SCENE Suggestion 12: (End of Episode) INT – Drawing Room – Night (20:00)
Monopoly Board:
All the Ghosts are crowded round the Monopoly Board – the game had been played throughout the episode and now it was near the end; only Kitty and Julian were playing as everyone else had been bankrupted.
It’s Julian’s turn again.
Kitty
Make sure you don’t land on my lovely May Fair!
Camera cuts to the hall outside the room where the Ghosts are.
Alison and Neon are encouraging/preparing Mike for his first official meeting face to face with the Ghosts (using Neon’s dimension ability which they have just managed to fix, so now Neon can see both the Ghosts and be seen by Mike at the same time).
Just then Julian rolls the dice... Robin excitedly pushes in and counts the spaces... landing on Kitty’s Mayfair!
Julian has lost! Julian’s counter goes flying across the room. And with all the grace and prestige of a politician... he goes into a headlong hissy fit demanding a ‘recount’!
Into this confusion, through the doorway walks Alison, Neon and Mike who are confronted with the blaring choral (Carl Orlf esk) music, with Julian ranting in slow motion.
Julian continues his slow motion rampage, with Alison, Neon and Mike in the background looking horrified.
Then Mike faints backwards, Neon and Alison look at each other... [slow motion has stopped, however the music is still playing loudly]
Neon, above the noise:
Bit much? [Neon holds their hand out]
Alison looking down at Mike:
Yeah! [after a pause Alison takes Neon’s hand]
Instantly the room becomes quiet... no music no Ghosts, Mike motionless on the floor.
Alison:
[sigh]... this is actually quite nice and quiet!
Neon nods and the camera pans round and surveys the room and comes to rest on the Monopoly board and table [Alison and Neon are in the background].
On the table, next to the Monopoly board is a mug, the mug comes into focus and moves/is shunted ever so slightly.
​
​
Episode Ends (1min 10sec) – Cut to: Closing Credits
Approximate Episode Total: 15mins 46secs
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