Primeval transcript: 1x02 Part 1
Masterlist
Previously on Primeval.
Opening titles.
OPENING SCENE:
A tube train, busy but not packed, pretty much everyone has a seat, but it looks hot. People are fanning themselves. The train stops.
Driver: London Underground apologises for the delay to the journey due to signalling problems at Parsons Green.
A girl gets up and opens the window on the emergency exit to try to cool down. She is standing there, reading her book, when something taps her on the neck. She turns and sees a giant spider. She slams the window shut, slicing off one of the spider’s legs. She screams.
CENTRAL METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY TAKE 1:
CONNOR TEMPLE is in the cafeteria, talking to 2 of his friends, TOM and DUNCAN.
Connor: They’re called anomalies, but I can’t say any more. Official Secrets Act. But I will tell you this, I’ve seen a gorgonopsid. Face-to-face. And trust me, it’s not pretty.
Tom: Just how stupid do you think we are Conn?
Connor: But it’s all true. All right, I swear on my Empire Strikes Back first edition poster, signed by Luke Skywalker and David Prowse.
Tom: Ooh, careful. That’s invoking a sacred relic.
Duncan: Yeah. Like the Bible.
Connor: Yeah, I know what a sacred relic is, Duncan. I have seen Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Tom: Space-time anomalies and dinosaurs. Sounds like someone’s been over-doing the Playstation.
Connor: I can prove it… Only I’m not allowed to.
Tom: Right.
Connor: You know, one day you’re going to be gutted you didn’t believe me.
Connor walks off.
Duncan: He’s lost it.
Tom: Totally. That’s the saddest thing I’ve seen since Matrix Revolutions. What’s weird is he actually seems to believe it.
Tom nudges Duncan and they both get mischievous looks on their faces.
CENTRAL METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY TAKE 2:
NICK CUTTER and STEPHEN HART are in Nick’s office, going through some papers.
Stephen: There’s ten years of Helen’s work here.
Nick: Keep looking.
Stephen: You’ve read every word she ever wrote.
Nick: Yes, but we didn’t know about the anomaly then. There might be references to it in Helen’s work that we overlooked.
Stephen: If she knew about it, she would have told you.
Nick doesn’t look so sure. Flashback sequence to the end of episode one. Cutter coming out of his lab after hearing a noise. The anomaly disappearing. Helen under a streetlight.
Nick is staring at a photo of Helen on his desk.
Stephen: Are you alright?
Nick: Just haven’t been sleeping very well.
CENTRAL METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY TAKE 3:
Connor is sitting at a table with his laptop. He appears to be on the internet. The computer beeps, and Connor grins.
ABBY’S FLAT:
ABBY MAITLAND is dancing around her flat to a rock song, in just a t-shirt and pants. She looks in one of the glass tanks dotted around the room, at an albino python.
Abby: Hi Fred.
REX, the lizard from episode one, appears on a nearby table. Abby keeps dancing, and laughs at Rex’s chirruping. There is a banging on her front door.
Connor: Abby, open up! I think I’ve found another anomaly.
Abby: Two secs!
Abby grabs Rex and puts him in an empty tank.
Abby: You’ve just got to be quiet.
She then covers the tank with a blanket. She then goes and opens the door, which slides across to reveal Connor.
Abby: Huh.
Connor: Hi. Wow!
Abby: Come in.
Connor: (whistles) This place is super cool. I mean it is… wow.
Connor has noticed that Abby is only in her underwear.
Connor: Is it me or is it just really hot in here.
Abby: Um, I’ll get changed.
Connor: Here you should read this.
Connor hands Abby a piece of paper as she goes upstairs and pulls on a pair of jeans.
Abby: Where did you get this?
Connor: Internet. On the weird sightings forum. It looks to me like another anomaly. We should check it out.
Abby: What does Cutter say?
Connor: I haven’t actually told him yet. You know, I could be wrong, and I don’t want him to think I’m an idiot.
Abby: He already thinks you’re an idiot.
Connor: Thanks very much. Come on, think how impressed he’ll be if I’m right.
Abby: I still think you should tell him.
Rex chirps. Connor hears and twitches aside the blanket covering the tank as Abby comes down the stairs.
Connor: Rex?
Abby: Um, he came back.
Connor: Kidnapping helpless lizards?
Abby: I didn’t want Lester’s people getting hold of him again.
Connor: That explains why you’re keeping the place so hot.
Abby: You won’t tell anyone?
Connor: No, I mean, you can rely on me. So how’s about it. You in?
Abby: Um, maybe we should just let someone know.
Connor: Come on, this is our chance to show him that we’re useful. Come on Abby. We’re pals now right? Right?
Abby: Mhmm.
Connor: You never know. We could find a new little playmate for Rex. They could get together and talk about really old times.
UNDERGROUND TUNNELS TAKE 1:
A worker is going along, spraying the tracks and the sides of the tunnel, muttering to himself. He hears a strange noise and turns, but there is nothing there. He continues, the noise sounds again, and once more, there is nothing there. A rat crawls out of a side tunnel as the worker carries on. As he moves away, a GIANT SPIDER attacks the rat.
HOME OFFICE TAKE 1:
CLAUDIA BROWN is talking to JAMES LESTER as they walk through the building.
Claudia: The Forest of Dean is completely clear. I’ve left Ryan in charge of mopping up. There’s been a lot of internet chatter, but we’ve got natural disbelief on our side.
Lester: Eyewitnesses?
Claudia: The schoolteacher’s in shock. I’m positive we can keep her away from the papers. And the boy will be no problem. Thank you.
Lester opens the door to an enclosed walkway and lets Claudia through first.
Lester: Pity the monster didn’t eat them both. That would have been the neatest solution. Joke.
They stop in the middle of the walkway and Lester turns to Claudia as another office worker hands Lester some papers to sign before she leaves.
Worker: Sir.
Lester: What about Cutter?
Claudia: What about him?
Lester: I don’t like anyone to whom the adjective ‘maverick’ might be applied. Cutter virtually owns the copyright.
Claudia: He may be a little unconventional in his methods, but he’s the closest thing we’ve got to an expert.
Lester: You’ve taken to him, haven’t you?
Claudia: I trust him, if that’s what you mean?
Lester: Of course, what else? Very well, keep him on side for the time being. I’d rather have him inside the proverbial tent than out.
BY THE RIVER TAKE 1:
Connor and Abby are walking by a river. They are both carrying rucksacks.
Abby: Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea.
Connor: You can hold my hand if you’re frightened.
Abby: And how is that going to make me feel better? I just don’t think we should be doing this on our own.
Connor: Stop worrying. If it’s another gorgonopsid, just run like hell.
Abby: Shut up Connor.
Connor: I was just saying…
A bird calls, making them both jump.
UNDERGROUND TUNNELS TAKE 2:
The worker from before has taken a break and is eating a packed lunch. He drops his apple and jumps down from where he was sitting to pick it up. As he does so, a large spider rears up and runs away, unnoticed. The worker sits back down and takes a bite out of his apple.
CENTRAL METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY TAKE 4:
Nick takes a bite of an apple. He is still at his desk, going through some more papers, but Stephen is not with him. There is a knock on his door and Claudia enters.
Claudia: You didn’t reply to any of my messages, so I came in person.
Nick: You know, I’ve been going through some of Helen’s papers. Please.
Nick moves some papers off a chair and Claudia sits down. Nick sits at the other side of his desk.
Nick: It was my fault she disappeared.
Claudia: Why?
Nick: I was supposed to go with her on that last field trip, but we had a row. Another row. She’d become obsessed with theories that I found, well, ridiculous.
Claudia: You mean she was onto the anomaly?
Nick: No, not as such, but she’d become convinced that there was no conventional scientific answers to certain evolutionary puzzles. And, well, obviously she was right.
Claudia: Nobody could have guessed that.
Nick: Yes, but she did.
Claudia: You’re not to blame for her death you know.
Nick: What makes you so sure she’s dead?
Claudia: She was lost 200 million years ago in the past. What else could she be?
BY THE RIVER TAKE 2:
Abby walks from where bunch of canoes are stored to where Connor is sitting at the base of a tree. She sits next to him.
Abby: The tent’s only big enough for one. You should have brought your own.
Connor: I like sleeping out.
Abby: Don’t really look the type.
Connor: I did the Duke of Edinburgh award, you know. For a morning. Until I sprained my ankle.
Abby and Connor both snigger a bit.
Abby: I’m freezing.
Connor: We should huddle together for warmth.
Abby gives Connor an incredulous look.
Connor: Or not.
Abby: Can I ask you a personal question?
Connor: Go ahead. Anything.
Abby: Is Stephen seeing anybody?
Connor: Stephen?
Abby: Has he said anything about me?
Connor: Uh, no. Not that I can remember, no. Actually I’ve never seen him with a woman. He might not like them. Could be gay.
Abby: He’s gay?
Connor: Well, I never said he was. I just said he could be.
Abby: But you don’t know.
Connor: Not conclusively. No.
Abby gets up and goes to the tent.
Connor: I’ll keep first watch then, shall I?
Abby zips up the tent, Connor settles back against the tree.
CENTRAL METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY TAKE 5:
Nick and Claudia are still in his office, talking at Nick’s desk.
Nick: So, tell me the plan.
Claudia: What plan? What else can we do?
Nick: Well, we could start off by telling everyone the truth.
Claudia: Uh, no.
Nick: Why?
Claudia: Right now, this is just a rumour mill for Internet conspiracy freaks and we can contain that. The alternatives are panic, hysteria and potential lawlessness. Simply unviable.
Nick: A cover up. Connor will be thrilled.
Claudia: It’s not a cover up. Well, okay, it is. But we have to do it.
Stephen enters the office.
Stephen: Text from Abby. Connor thinks he’s onto another anomaly. They’ve gone to investigate.
Nick: Where are they?
Stephen: New Forest. She’s not exactly sure where.
BY THE RIVER TAKE 3:
Connor is pacing by the river as the Sun sets. Music is playing on a radio. Abby is in the tent. It goes dark. Connor has fallen asleep against a tree. His phone is ringing on its vibrate setting, but doesn’t wake him. There is a rustling in the bushes and a growling noise. Abby wakes up and gets out of the tent, waving a torch around. She goes over to Connor and wakes him.
Abby: Connor, wake up!
Connor: What?
They see something moving around in the trees.
Connor: Oh my god. Quick.
They try to get away but their exit is cut off, they retreat back the tent, and Connor places himself in front of Abby. There is an electronic whirring noise and the creature collapses. Connor and Abby approach it carefully. It appears to be an electronic dinosaur torso on a trolley.
Tom: Careful, it bites!
Tom and Duncan are in the trees, laughing at the prank.
Connor: You idiots!
Police sirens approach and Tom waves as he and Duncan run off. Connor sighs in disbelief.
UNDERGROUND TUNNELS TAKE 3:
The worker is still in the tunnels; he appears to be looking for any damage. He spots a hole in the wall and examines it. As he turns moves away he sees a giant spider and screams as it jumps at him.
BY THE RIVER TAKE 6:
Daylight. Nick is talking to a police officer whilst Stephen looks at the dinosaur model. Abby and Connor are standing by the river looking apprehensive.
Police officer: Take care and make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Nick approaches the others as the police officer rejoins his colleague.
Connor: Look, I know what you’re going to say.
Abby: We’re sorry.
Nick: The police aren’t going to prosecute you for trespassing. Supposing it had been a predator. What were you going to do? Tame it? You knew exactly what was at stake but you just couldn’t keep your mouth shut.
Connor: It’s just so big. I had to tell somebody. I’m sorry. I am. I blew it.
Nick: Go back to college. Get on with your work. I’ll find you another supervisor.
Abby: I’m just as much to blame as he is.
Nick: Just as stupid, maybe. But you didn’t shout your mouth off and you’ve still got skills I can use. You stay.
Nick and Stephen leave. Connor turns away, looking like he’s about to cry.
HOSPITAL TAKE 1:
A nurse is checking the underground worker that was attacked earlier. He is pale and shaking and appears to be having breathing difficulties. DR LEWIS is talking to Nick and Claudia.
Lewis: This kind of thing doesn’t normally interest the government.
Claudia: We like to keep an eye on violent crime, Dr Lewis. Especially when there’s unusual circumstances.
Lewis: Well, he was found early this morning in the Underground. He’d been spraying the tunnels for vermin. Judging from the size of the wound, he’d been attacked with a knife or an axe, but it makes no sense.
Claudia: Why not?
Lewis: It’s not the wound that’s killing him, it’s poison.
Claudia: Are you suggesting that someone took an axe to him, and then injected poison into the wound?
Lewis: Venom, to be precise.
Claudia: As in snakes and insects?
Lewis: We’re running every test we can think of, but the truth is, we just don’t know what we’re dealing with.
Claudia: Did he say anything before he lost consciousness?
Lewis: He was babbling about monsters.
Nick has walked over to the man and is looking at the wound.
Nick: It looks like a single puncture mark, but it’s not a knife and it’s not an axe. It’s more like a bite.
Lewis: From what?
Nick: Good question.
HOME OFFICE TAKE 2:
Nick is talking to Lester as they and Claudia walk through the building.
Lester: I can’t close the underground on a wild hunch.
Nick: Something injected a fatal dose of venom into his bloodstream.
Lester: There could be a perfectly rational explanation.
Nick: Oh, now that I’d love to hear.
Lester: And how do you suggest I explain this to the Mayor. ‘Excuse me sir, would you mind terribly throwing the whole bloody underground into chaos because with think there may be a fare-dodging creepy-crawly on the loose somewhere’?
The three of them reach Lester’s office.
Claudia: We’re not talking about shutting down the whole system, just the area where the attack took place. There’s a whole network of disused tunnels down there.
Lester sighs and moves around his desk and sits down.
Lester: Yes, very well.
OUTSIDE THE STATION TAKE 1:
Claudia arrives at the station with CAPTAIN TOM RYAN and a load of soldiers. The soldiers rush around making preparations. Getting guns out of cars, setting up perimeters etc.
Solider 1: Get them out. Right, follow me.
Soldier 2: Come on, come on, come on!
Station intercom: All passengers please vacate the station.
The passengers leave as the soldiers enter the station. The Nick, Stephen and Abby arrive.
UNDERGROUND TUNNELS TAKE 4:
Ryan and his men enter the tunnels.
Ryan: Vision on lads.
OUTSIDE THE STATION TAKE 2:
Nick is with Claudia.
Nick: We should be down there with them.
Claudia: Special Forces go in first. You didn’t think Lester was going to let you have it all your own way?
UNDERGROUND TUNNELS TAKE 4:
Ryan and his men are making last minute preparations - checking weapons, putting on night vision goggles etc.
OUTSIDE THE STATION TAKE 3:
Nick: They don’t even know what they’re looking for.
Stephen: Well, there can’t be that many different types of venomous predator under the Aldwych.
Claudia: You should see the last tube home on a Friday night.
UNDERGROUND TUNNELS TAKE 5:
Ryan and his men enter the tunnels. They find a spot where a door has been covered loosely by some corrugated metal.
Ryan: Here, clear it.
One of the soldiers moves the metal, exposing the entrance.
Ryan: Ready, go.
The soldiers enter a short tunnel and approach the door at the other end.
Soldier (over the radio): Last one in.
Ryan: Clear so far. Keep it really tight lads.
We see some shots with natural light, and some as though we are looking through night vision goggles, making everything green.
The first soldiers reach the door and open it, entering some sort of large storeroom.
Soldier (over the radio): Moving in.
The soldiers enter, when Ryan looks up, he sees lots of glowing eyes.
Ryan: Push forward, cover the exit.
They pause near the centre of the room and look around. A spider comes around the corner and scuttles towards them. The soldiers train their weapons on it.
Solider 1: Pull tight!
Ryan: Keep it tight.
The spider runs off and the soldiers regroup, forming a circle that covers everyone’s back.
Ryan: Close in!
Ryan looks up, and removes his night vision goggles (it’s not really dark enough to need them) and sees loads of giant spiders on the ceiling. Some of his men follow his line of sight. Some of the spiders start to drop.
Ryan: Above! Above!
A spider lands on one of the soldiers.
Soldier: Get off!
Ryan knocks the spider away. He and his men start defending themselves as more spiders drop on them.
Soldier 2: What are they?
Soldier 3: They’re everywhere!
One of the soldiers takes aim at a spider.
Ryan: Hold your fire!
Too late, the soldier fires and the bullet ricochets around the room.
OUTSIDE THE STATION TAKE 4:
Claudia is listening in on a radio. Nick is nearby and joins her as a scream is heard over the radio.
UNDERGROUND TUNNELS TAKE 6:
Most of the men are crouched on the floor. The spiders seem to have retreated somewhat.
Ryan: Withdraw.
The soldiers leave through the tunnel, Ryan bringing up the rear.
OUTSIDE THE STATION TAKE 5:
A medic is examining the soldier who had a spider dropped on him. The medic shows Nick a puncture wound on the soldier’s neck. Stephen, Claudia and Ryan are with him.
Ryan: They were like spiders, but with pincers, not fangs. Some of them over a meter long. Horrible little…
Nick: Look, tell me how you feel.
Ryan: Sick. My ears are ringing…
Nick: Any blurred vision?
Ryan: No. But there’s something else. The gunshots were too bright, like fireworks.
Stephen: That’s classic signs of excess oxygen in the atmosphere.
They leave Ryan to prepare his men. Abby joins them.
Nick: A richer, more heavily oxygenated air must be seeping through from another anomaly. We’re not talking about the Permian era any longer. This is much, much earlier.
Claudia: How much earlier?
Nick: Maybe the Carboniferous about 300 million years ago. We really need to see exactly what these creatures look like. I need to see this for myself.
Claudia: Okay, go.
Nick: Lets get some gear.
Nick, Abby and Stephen leave to get suited up.
CENTRAL METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY TAKE 6:
Connor is sitting by himself on a bench in a garden area at the University.
OUTSIDE THE STATION TAKE 6:
Abby is lacing up her boots. Ryan walks past her to where Nick and Stephen are standing.
Stephen: Oh, you wear it well. You look good.
Nick and Stephen laugh as Ryan walks up and offers a gun to Nick.
Nick: Ah. No, we need torches. The most powerful you can find.
Ryan: Take night vision goggles.
Stephen: Vision isn’t the issue.
Claudia approaches them.
Claudia: Well, the pest controller died a few minutes ago. They’re running tests on our casualty now.
Abby approaches, adjusting her belt.
Claudia: What’s she doing?
Nick: Abby’s got more practical experience with animals than the rest of us put together.
Claudia: I don’t care if she’s Doctor Dolittle. Sorry, it’s just too risky.
Abby: I can help. I’ve just finished a study in insect behaviour.
Nick: Torches.
Claudia, Nick and Ryan walk off.
Stephen: Is that true?
Abby: Kind of. To tell you the truth, spiders aren’t really my thing.
Stephen: Yeah, well, technically these are probably scorpions.
Abby: I feel better already.
1x02 Part 2
Previously on Primeval.
Opening titles.
OPENING SCENE:
A tube train, busy but not packed, pretty much everyone has a seat, but it looks hot. People are fanning themselves. The train stops.
Driver: London Underground apologises for the delay to the journey due to signalling problems at Parsons Green.
A girl gets up and opens the window on the emergency exit to try to cool down. She is standing there, reading her book, when something taps her on the neck. She turns and sees a giant spider. She slams the window shut, slicing off one of the spider’s legs. She screams.
CENTRAL METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY TAKE 1:
CONNOR TEMPLE is in the cafeteria, talking to 2 of his friends, TOM and DUNCAN.
Connor: They’re called anomalies, but I can’t say any more. Official Secrets Act. But I will tell you this, I’ve seen a gorgonopsid. Face-to-face. And trust me, it’s not pretty.
Tom: Just how stupid do you think we are Conn?
Connor: But it’s all true. All right, I swear on my Empire Strikes Back first edition poster, signed by Luke Skywalker and David Prowse.
Tom: Ooh, careful. That’s invoking a sacred relic.
Duncan: Yeah. Like the Bible.
Connor: Yeah, I know what a sacred relic is, Duncan. I have seen Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Tom: Space-time anomalies and dinosaurs. Sounds like someone’s been over-doing the Playstation.
Connor: I can prove it… Only I’m not allowed to.
Tom: Right.
Connor: You know, one day you’re going to be gutted you didn’t believe me.
Connor walks off.
Duncan: He’s lost it.
Tom: Totally. That’s the saddest thing I’ve seen since Matrix Revolutions. What’s weird is he actually seems to believe it.
Tom nudges Duncan and they both get mischievous looks on their faces.
CENTRAL METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY TAKE 2:
NICK CUTTER and STEPHEN HART are in Nick’s office, going through some papers.
Stephen: There’s ten years of Helen’s work here.
Nick: Keep looking.
Stephen: You’ve read every word she ever wrote.
Nick: Yes, but we didn’t know about the anomaly then. There might be references to it in Helen’s work that we overlooked.
Stephen: If she knew about it, she would have told you.
Nick doesn’t look so sure. Flashback sequence to the end of episode one. Cutter coming out of his lab after hearing a noise. The anomaly disappearing. Helen under a streetlight.
Nick is staring at a photo of Helen on his desk.
Stephen: Are you alright?
Nick: Just haven’t been sleeping very well.
CENTRAL METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY TAKE 3:
Connor is sitting at a table with his laptop. He appears to be on the internet. The computer beeps, and Connor grins.
ABBY’S FLAT:
ABBY MAITLAND is dancing around her flat to a rock song, in just a t-shirt and pants. She looks in one of the glass tanks dotted around the room, at an albino python.
Abby: Hi Fred.
REX, the lizard from episode one, appears on a nearby table. Abby keeps dancing, and laughs at Rex’s chirruping. There is a banging on her front door.
Connor: Abby, open up! I think I’ve found another anomaly.
Abby: Two secs!
Abby grabs Rex and puts him in an empty tank.
Abby: You’ve just got to be quiet.
She then covers the tank with a blanket. She then goes and opens the door, which slides across to reveal Connor.
Abby: Huh.
Connor: Hi. Wow!
Abby: Come in.
Connor: (whistles) This place is super cool. I mean it is… wow.
Connor has noticed that Abby is only in her underwear.
Connor: Is it me or is it just really hot in here.
Abby: Um, I’ll get changed.
Connor: Here you should read this.
Connor hands Abby a piece of paper as she goes upstairs and pulls on a pair of jeans.
Abby: Where did you get this?
Connor: Internet. On the weird sightings forum. It looks to me like another anomaly. We should check it out.
Abby: What does Cutter say?
Connor: I haven’t actually told him yet. You know, I could be wrong, and I don’t want him to think I’m an idiot.
Abby: He already thinks you’re an idiot.
Connor: Thanks very much. Come on, think how impressed he’ll be if I’m right.
Abby: I still think you should tell him.
Rex chirps. Connor hears and twitches aside the blanket covering the tank as Abby comes down the stairs.
Connor: Rex?
Abby: Um, he came back.
Connor: Kidnapping helpless lizards?
Abby: I didn’t want Lester’s people getting hold of him again.
Connor: That explains why you’re keeping the place so hot.
Abby: You won’t tell anyone?
Connor: No, I mean, you can rely on me. So how’s about it. You in?
Abby: Um, maybe we should just let someone know.
Connor: Come on, this is our chance to show him that we’re useful. Come on Abby. We’re pals now right? Right?
Abby: Mhmm.
Connor: You never know. We could find a new little playmate for Rex. They could get together and talk about really old times.
UNDERGROUND TUNNELS TAKE 1:
A worker is going along, spraying the tracks and the sides of the tunnel, muttering to himself. He hears a strange noise and turns, but there is nothing there. He continues, the noise sounds again, and once more, there is nothing there. A rat crawls out of a side tunnel as the worker carries on. As he moves away, a GIANT SPIDER attacks the rat.
HOME OFFICE TAKE 1:
CLAUDIA BROWN is talking to JAMES LESTER as they walk through the building.
Claudia: The Forest of Dean is completely clear. I’ve left Ryan in charge of mopping up. There’s been a lot of internet chatter, but we’ve got natural disbelief on our side.
Lester: Eyewitnesses?
Claudia: The schoolteacher’s in shock. I’m positive we can keep her away from the papers. And the boy will be no problem. Thank you.
Lester opens the door to an enclosed walkway and lets Claudia through first.
Lester: Pity the monster didn’t eat them both. That would have been the neatest solution. Joke.
They stop in the middle of the walkway and Lester turns to Claudia as another office worker hands Lester some papers to sign before she leaves.
Worker: Sir.
Lester: What about Cutter?
Claudia: What about him?
Lester: I don’t like anyone to whom the adjective ‘maverick’ might be applied. Cutter virtually owns the copyright.
Claudia: He may be a little unconventional in his methods, but he’s the closest thing we’ve got to an expert.
Lester: You’ve taken to him, haven’t you?
Claudia: I trust him, if that’s what you mean?
Lester: Of course, what else? Very well, keep him on side for the time being. I’d rather have him inside the proverbial tent than out.
BY THE RIVER TAKE 1:
Connor and Abby are walking by a river. They are both carrying rucksacks.
Abby: Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea.
Connor: You can hold my hand if you’re frightened.
Abby: And how is that going to make me feel better? I just don’t think we should be doing this on our own.
Connor: Stop worrying. If it’s another gorgonopsid, just run like hell.
Abby: Shut up Connor.
Connor: I was just saying…
A bird calls, making them both jump.
UNDERGROUND TUNNELS TAKE 2:
The worker from before has taken a break and is eating a packed lunch. He drops his apple and jumps down from where he was sitting to pick it up. As he does so, a large spider rears up and runs away, unnoticed. The worker sits back down and takes a bite out of his apple.
CENTRAL METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY TAKE 4:
Nick takes a bite of an apple. He is still at his desk, going through some more papers, but Stephen is not with him. There is a knock on his door and Claudia enters.
Claudia: You didn’t reply to any of my messages, so I came in person.
Nick: You know, I’ve been going through some of Helen’s papers. Please.
Nick moves some papers off a chair and Claudia sits down. Nick sits at the other side of his desk.
Nick: It was my fault she disappeared.
Claudia: Why?
Nick: I was supposed to go with her on that last field trip, but we had a row. Another row. She’d become obsessed with theories that I found, well, ridiculous.
Claudia: You mean she was onto the anomaly?
Nick: No, not as such, but she’d become convinced that there was no conventional scientific answers to certain evolutionary puzzles. And, well, obviously she was right.
Claudia: Nobody could have guessed that.
Nick: Yes, but she did.
Claudia: You’re not to blame for her death you know.
Nick: What makes you so sure she’s dead?
Claudia: She was lost 200 million years ago in the past. What else could she be?
BY THE RIVER TAKE 2:
Abby walks from where bunch of canoes are stored to where Connor is sitting at the base of a tree. She sits next to him.
Abby: The tent’s only big enough for one. You should have brought your own.
Connor: I like sleeping out.
Abby: Don’t really look the type.
Connor: I did the Duke of Edinburgh award, you know. For a morning. Until I sprained my ankle.
Abby and Connor both snigger a bit.
Abby: I’m freezing.
Connor: We should huddle together for warmth.
Abby gives Connor an incredulous look.
Connor: Or not.
Abby: Can I ask you a personal question?
Connor: Go ahead. Anything.
Abby: Is Stephen seeing anybody?
Connor: Stephen?
Abby: Has he said anything about me?
Connor: Uh, no. Not that I can remember, no. Actually I’ve never seen him with a woman. He might not like them. Could be gay.
Abby: He’s gay?
Connor: Well, I never said he was. I just said he could be.
Abby: But you don’t know.
Connor: Not conclusively. No.
Abby gets up and goes to the tent.
Connor: I’ll keep first watch then, shall I?
Abby zips up the tent, Connor settles back against the tree.
CENTRAL METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY TAKE 5:
Nick and Claudia are still in his office, talking at Nick’s desk.
Nick: So, tell me the plan.
Claudia: What plan? What else can we do?
Nick: Well, we could start off by telling everyone the truth.
Claudia: Uh, no.
Nick: Why?
Claudia: Right now, this is just a rumour mill for Internet conspiracy freaks and we can contain that. The alternatives are panic, hysteria and potential lawlessness. Simply unviable.
Nick: A cover up. Connor will be thrilled.
Claudia: It’s not a cover up. Well, okay, it is. But we have to do it.
Stephen enters the office.
Stephen: Text from Abby. Connor thinks he’s onto another anomaly. They’ve gone to investigate.
Nick: Where are they?
Stephen: New Forest. She’s not exactly sure where.
BY THE RIVER TAKE 3:
Connor is pacing by the river as the Sun sets. Music is playing on a radio. Abby is in the tent. It goes dark. Connor has fallen asleep against a tree. His phone is ringing on its vibrate setting, but doesn’t wake him. There is a rustling in the bushes and a growling noise. Abby wakes up and gets out of the tent, waving a torch around. She goes over to Connor and wakes him.
Abby: Connor, wake up!
Connor: What?
They see something moving around in the trees.
Connor: Oh my god. Quick.
They try to get away but their exit is cut off, they retreat back the tent, and Connor places himself in front of Abby. There is an electronic whirring noise and the creature collapses. Connor and Abby approach it carefully. It appears to be an electronic dinosaur torso on a trolley.
Tom: Careful, it bites!
Tom and Duncan are in the trees, laughing at the prank.
Connor: You idiots!
Police sirens approach and Tom waves as he and Duncan run off. Connor sighs in disbelief.
UNDERGROUND TUNNELS TAKE 3:
The worker is still in the tunnels; he appears to be looking for any damage. He spots a hole in the wall and examines it. As he turns moves away he sees a giant spider and screams as it jumps at him.
BY THE RIVER TAKE 6:
Daylight. Nick is talking to a police officer whilst Stephen looks at the dinosaur model. Abby and Connor are standing by the river looking apprehensive.
Police officer: Take care and make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Nick approaches the others as the police officer rejoins his colleague.
Connor: Look, I know what you’re going to say.
Abby: We’re sorry.
Nick: The police aren’t going to prosecute you for trespassing. Supposing it had been a predator. What were you going to do? Tame it? You knew exactly what was at stake but you just couldn’t keep your mouth shut.
Connor: It’s just so big. I had to tell somebody. I’m sorry. I am. I blew it.
Nick: Go back to college. Get on with your work. I’ll find you another supervisor.
Abby: I’m just as much to blame as he is.
Nick: Just as stupid, maybe. But you didn’t shout your mouth off and you’ve still got skills I can use. You stay.
Nick and Stephen leave. Connor turns away, looking like he’s about to cry.
HOSPITAL TAKE 1:
A nurse is checking the underground worker that was attacked earlier. He is pale and shaking and appears to be having breathing difficulties. DR LEWIS is talking to Nick and Claudia.
Lewis: This kind of thing doesn’t normally interest the government.
Claudia: We like to keep an eye on violent crime, Dr Lewis. Especially when there’s unusual circumstances.
Lewis: Well, he was found early this morning in the Underground. He’d been spraying the tunnels for vermin. Judging from the size of the wound, he’d been attacked with a knife or an axe, but it makes no sense.
Claudia: Why not?
Lewis: It’s not the wound that’s killing him, it’s poison.
Claudia: Are you suggesting that someone took an axe to him, and then injected poison into the wound?
Lewis: Venom, to be precise.
Claudia: As in snakes and insects?
Lewis: We’re running every test we can think of, but the truth is, we just don’t know what we’re dealing with.
Claudia: Did he say anything before he lost consciousness?
Lewis: He was babbling about monsters.
Nick has walked over to the man and is looking at the wound.
Nick: It looks like a single puncture mark, but it’s not a knife and it’s not an axe. It’s more like a bite.
Lewis: From what?
Nick: Good question.
HOME OFFICE TAKE 2:
Nick is talking to Lester as they and Claudia walk through the building.
Lester: I can’t close the underground on a wild hunch.
Nick: Something injected a fatal dose of venom into his bloodstream.
Lester: There could be a perfectly rational explanation.
Nick: Oh, now that I’d love to hear.
Lester: And how do you suggest I explain this to the Mayor. ‘Excuse me sir, would you mind terribly throwing the whole bloody underground into chaos because with think there may be a fare-dodging creepy-crawly on the loose somewhere’?
The three of them reach Lester’s office.
Claudia: We’re not talking about shutting down the whole system, just the area where the attack took place. There’s a whole network of disused tunnels down there.
Lester sighs and moves around his desk and sits down.
Lester: Yes, very well.
OUTSIDE THE STATION TAKE 1:
Claudia arrives at the station with CAPTAIN TOM RYAN and a load of soldiers. The soldiers rush around making preparations. Getting guns out of cars, setting up perimeters etc.
Solider 1: Get them out. Right, follow me.
Soldier 2: Come on, come on, come on!
Station intercom: All passengers please vacate the station.
The passengers leave as the soldiers enter the station. The Nick, Stephen and Abby arrive.
UNDERGROUND TUNNELS TAKE 4:
Ryan and his men enter the tunnels.
Ryan: Vision on lads.
OUTSIDE THE STATION TAKE 2:
Nick is with Claudia.
Nick: We should be down there with them.
Claudia: Special Forces go in first. You didn’t think Lester was going to let you have it all your own way?
UNDERGROUND TUNNELS TAKE 4:
Ryan and his men are making last minute preparations - checking weapons, putting on night vision goggles etc.
OUTSIDE THE STATION TAKE 3:
Nick: They don’t even know what they’re looking for.
Stephen: Well, there can’t be that many different types of venomous predator under the Aldwych.
Claudia: You should see the last tube home on a Friday night.
UNDERGROUND TUNNELS TAKE 5:
Ryan and his men enter the tunnels. They find a spot where a door has been covered loosely by some corrugated metal.
Ryan: Here, clear it.
One of the soldiers moves the metal, exposing the entrance.
Ryan: Ready, go.
The soldiers enter a short tunnel and approach the door at the other end.
Soldier (over the radio): Last one in.
Ryan: Clear so far. Keep it really tight lads.
We see some shots with natural light, and some as though we are looking through night vision goggles, making everything green.
The first soldiers reach the door and open it, entering some sort of large storeroom.
Soldier (over the radio): Moving in.
The soldiers enter, when Ryan looks up, he sees lots of glowing eyes.
Ryan: Push forward, cover the exit.
They pause near the centre of the room and look around. A spider comes around the corner and scuttles towards them. The soldiers train their weapons on it.
Solider 1: Pull tight!
Ryan: Keep it tight.
The spider runs off and the soldiers regroup, forming a circle that covers everyone’s back.
Ryan: Close in!
Ryan looks up, and removes his night vision goggles (it’s not really dark enough to need them) and sees loads of giant spiders on the ceiling. Some of his men follow his line of sight. Some of the spiders start to drop.
Ryan: Above! Above!
A spider lands on one of the soldiers.
Soldier: Get off!
Ryan knocks the spider away. He and his men start defending themselves as more spiders drop on them.
Soldier 2: What are they?
Soldier 3: They’re everywhere!
One of the soldiers takes aim at a spider.
Ryan: Hold your fire!
Too late, the soldier fires and the bullet ricochets around the room.
OUTSIDE THE STATION TAKE 4:
Claudia is listening in on a radio. Nick is nearby and joins her as a scream is heard over the radio.
UNDERGROUND TUNNELS TAKE 6:
Most of the men are crouched on the floor. The spiders seem to have retreated somewhat.
Ryan: Withdraw.
The soldiers leave through the tunnel, Ryan bringing up the rear.
OUTSIDE THE STATION TAKE 5:
A medic is examining the soldier who had a spider dropped on him. The medic shows Nick a puncture wound on the soldier’s neck. Stephen, Claudia and Ryan are with him.
Ryan: They were like spiders, but with pincers, not fangs. Some of them over a meter long. Horrible little…
Nick: Look, tell me how you feel.
Ryan: Sick. My ears are ringing…
Nick: Any blurred vision?
Ryan: No. But there’s something else. The gunshots were too bright, like fireworks.
Stephen: That’s classic signs of excess oxygen in the atmosphere.
They leave Ryan to prepare his men. Abby joins them.
Nick: A richer, more heavily oxygenated air must be seeping through from another anomaly. We’re not talking about the Permian era any longer. This is much, much earlier.
Claudia: How much earlier?
Nick: Maybe the Carboniferous about 300 million years ago. We really need to see exactly what these creatures look like. I need to see this for myself.
Claudia: Okay, go.
Nick: Lets get some gear.
Nick, Abby and Stephen leave to get suited up.
CENTRAL METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY TAKE 6:
Connor is sitting by himself on a bench in a garden area at the University.
OUTSIDE THE STATION TAKE 6:
Abby is lacing up her boots. Ryan walks past her to where Nick and Stephen are standing.
Stephen: Oh, you wear it well. You look good.
Nick and Stephen laugh as Ryan walks up and offers a gun to Nick.
Nick: Ah. No, we need torches. The most powerful you can find.
Ryan: Take night vision goggles.
Stephen: Vision isn’t the issue.
Claudia approaches them.
Claudia: Well, the pest controller died a few minutes ago. They’re running tests on our casualty now.
Abby approaches, adjusting her belt.
Claudia: What’s she doing?
Nick: Abby’s got more practical experience with animals than the rest of us put together.
Claudia: I don’t care if she’s Doctor Dolittle. Sorry, it’s just too risky.
Abby: I can help. I’ve just finished a study in insect behaviour.
Nick: Torches.
Claudia, Nick and Ryan walk off.
Stephen: Is that true?
Abby: Kind of. To tell you the truth, spiders aren’t really my thing.
Stephen: Yeah, well, technically these are probably scorpions.
Abby: I feel better already.
1x02 Part 2