The Team

FADE IN

INT. - A HOME OFFICE - NIGHT

A computer screen. Message - "Due to the current Corona Virus pandemic all production on 'Wesley Road' has ceased. We have to protect our actors and crew at this time."

MICHEAL BARNES thirty something, stares at the screen.

MICHAEL BARNES

Well, that's us out of work then.

SARAH BARNES thirty something, enters room.

SARAH BARNES

What's that?

Sarah looks at the screen.

SARAH BARNES

Oh!

The phone rings. Micheal picks it up and speaks into it.

MICHEAL BARNES

Hello?

BURT ENTWISTLE fifty something, is at the other end of the phone. Voice only.

BURT ENTWISTLE

Have you heard?

MICHEAL BARNES

Alright Burt, ye, I got an email just now.

BURT ENTWISTLE

We've got about thirty episodes in the can but what do we do then?

MICHEAL BARNES

Not a lot we can do.

SARAH BARNES

Oh yes there is. We just gotta think clever. Now first we got Fred and Mena. He can have her locked in a cupboard, talking to her through the door. No contact.

MICHEAL BARNES

And Barry's working away at the moment. We can have him talking to Amy by skype.

BURT ENTWISTLE

We need to get the rest of the team in on this. Look, I'll setup a conference call for tomorrow morning. Once we've got some workable ideas I'll persuade the bosses to give it a go.

FADE IN

INT. - SAME HOME OFFICE - DAY

Computer screen. Four faces. BURT ENTWISTLE, SELINA CONCESCU twenty something, Romanian, STELLA ROYCE sixty something, MARK ARMSTRONG forty something.

Micheal sits at his desk, Sarah looks over his shoulder.

MICHEAL

Good morning everyone.

BURT

Good morning Micheal, Sarah. I told everyone your idea.

STELLA ROYCE

I like it. I think it could work. For a few more episodes anyway.

SELINA CONCESCU

(Heavy accent)

I have the ideas. Chelsea, she is home alone with twins. We need no babies, just sound effects. She try to cook meal but babies cry. She, how you say, tear hair out.

MARK ARMSTRONG

And we could cut to her entering the park with the pram. She feeds the ducks and then they start screaming and she just walks away.

STELLA ROYCE

And, here's the cliff hanger, the brakes fail and the pram starts rolling towards the lake.

SARAH

The next episode can re-show that bit and then a hand grabs the handle.

STELLA

Cut that with Wes coming home to an empty house. Smoke's billowing from the oven.

SARAH

And Wes can phone lots of people asking if they know where she is.

BURT

Okay. We're really getting somewhere. I'll start talking to the bosses, you keep coming up with ideas. We'll have another conference at ten tomorrow. Maybe some dialogue for Fred and Mena, Stella.

STELLA

Will do. Bye folks.

Stella's face disappears from screen.

MICHAEL

Sarah and I will script out the skype between Barry and Amy. See you all tomorrow. Bye.

Computer screen goes black.

FADE IN

INT. - SAME HOME OFFICE - DAY

Computer screen with three faces. BURT, SELINA, MARK.

BURT

Morning guys. Bad news I'm afraid. Stella's ill.

SARAH

Not ...

BURT

She thinks so. Any way, she's e-mailed over her script.

MICHEAL

So, we've got the Fred and Mena storyline. What else have we got?

MARK

I've worked up Selina's idea for Chelsea and Wes and the twins. But we need to decide what happens from the bit at the pond.

SARAH

I'm more concerned about Stella. How bad is it?

BURT

Oh, she's just a bit under t
he weather. It might not even be the virus.

Phone rings in Burt's house.

BURT

Hang on a sec, guys.

(Into phone)

Hello, yes ... oh, okay, thanks for letting me know.

(On screen)

That was the hospital. Stella's been admitted.

FADE IN

INT. - SAME OFFICE - NIGHT

BURT's face appears on the computer screen.

SARAH

What's wrong?

BURT

It's Stella, she's in intensive care.

SARAH

Oh no. It puts things into perspective though. Why are we wasting time writing a soap when people are dying?

BURT

Because we're keeping the living sane.

SARAH

I suppose so.

BURT

Where's Mike?

SARAH

In the bath. That's his way of relaxing. I've been doing yoga.

BURT

We really need to think up a lot more ideas. This thing could go on for another year.

SARAH

It's not just the show we have to think about, it's our entire life.