Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Mr. Monk and the Rubber Room - Act 2, Part 1

Over the past year, I took a TV writing course as a part of my MFA in Creative Writing through the University of British Columbia. During that course, we studied the art of writing teleplays, and during the course we produced a spec script, and an original pilot spec. A spec script is a TV writer's calling card, as it is what shows the agents and TV execs that you can actually write, and write well. A spec is a script is also based on an existing television show, and the reason for this is that if you can show that you have captured the tone and feel of a show that is not yours, then you can theoretically write for any show.

I don't believe I'll ever be a TV writer, as much as I'd like to be, because family commitments prevent me from trying to climb that ladder. But still, I found I enjoyed writing this form.

What follows is not fan fiction, I want to be clear about that, but is my own original spec script for the show Monk.


ACT TWO

INT. SUNNYLAND FOYER - LATER

Natalie is walking through the foyer, holding her hand up to her face, trying to hide as she passes the gaggle of elderly women who are waiting impatiently in the lobby. Several glare at Natalie as she walks past.

When Natalie reaches the elevator, a guard stops her.

GUARD
I'm sorry ma'am, but you can't go up there without an escort.

NATALIE
But my boss, Mr. Monk, he just went up there. I'm his assistant.

GUARD
I'm sorry, but you can't go alone.

NATALIE
Can't you take me?

GUARD
No ma'am, I can't leave my post. If you'll just have a seat, I'm sure the doctor will be around shortly.

Natalie looks disconcerted, but she does as asked. After Natalie sits down, the elevator opens and a Japanese nurse walks into the lobby. A small, dark stain is visible on the sleeve of her uniform, and around her armpit. She looks slightly harried.

NATALIE
(to the nurse)
Excuse me! Excuse me!

The nurse stops and looks at Natalie, confused.

NURSE
Yes?

NATALIE
Have you seen Doctor Randall? He's with my boss and I need to get to him.

The nurse hesitates a moment.

NURSE
Doctor Randall is busy right now. Sorry, but I have to take care of something.

The nurse walks away. Natalie watches as she approaches the group of old women.

OLD WOMAN #1
What's been keeping you!

OLD WOMAN #2
You know how long we've been waiting here!

The nurse makes a calming gesture.

NURSE
Sorry. We have to reschedule! Doctor Randall is indisposed.

OLD WOMAN #1
Reschedule! Where is he!

The nurse signals to the guard, who walks away from his post. When the guard passes her, Natalie walks quickly over to the elevator. She pushes the button and waits. The doors open, she enters, turns around, and sees a different guard.

GUARD #2
And where are you going?

NATALIE
I...uh...

GUARD #2
Ma'am, I'm going to have to ask you to leave the building.

NATALIE
But Mr. Monk! He's...

GUARD #2
This way please, ma'am.

The Guard escorts Natalie past the old women, who are still arguing with the nurse, and out the front door.

INT. SUNNYLAND PATIENT'S ROOM - LATER

We see from Monk's POV as Monk's eyes open. His vision is very blurry. He sees a woman who vaguely resembles Natalie.

MONK
(Dry, croaking voice)
Natalie? What happened?

Monk holds his head and groans.

MONK (CONT'D)
Ken didn't commit suicide. He was murdered.

Monk looks at his hand.

MONK (CONT'D)
Blood!

Monk gasps.

MONK (CONT'D)
Wipe! I need a wipe!

No longer in Monk's POV, Monk looks up and sees a nurse. Her name tag says NURSE RASHID.

MONK (CONT'D)
You're not Natalie. Where's Natalie? What happened?

NURSE RASHID
It seems you hurt yourself, Mr. Johnson.

The Nurse holds up a wet cloth.

NURSE RASHID
Let me take a look at it.

MONK
Who's Mr. Johnson? My name is Adrian Monk. You know, the famous detective?

Nurse Rashid cleans Monk's wound.

NURSE RASHID
Of course you are, Mr. Johnson.
(Beat)
It looks like you cut your scalp. It bled a lot, but you'll be fine.

Monk notices he is wearing a patient's gown.

MONK
Where are my clothes?

NURSE RASHID
I think you dirtied them during your accident.

MONK
Accident? What accident?

Nurse Rashid grabs a clipboard.

NURSE RASHID
It says on your chart that you slipped and hit your head. If you want, I can call Doctor Randall over to speak with you.

Monk's eyes flash, remembering.

MONK
Doctor Randall! Now I remember. He's the guy!

NURSE RASHID
The guy?

Monk leans forward.

MONK
(Quietly)
The murderer.

NURSE RASHID
Excuse me?

MONK
He murdered Ken Casey. It wasn't a suicide.

Nurse Rashid gives Monk a skeptical look. She points at Monk's injury.

NURSE RASHID
How about we put a bandage on that, shall we?

EXT. SUNNYLAND RETREAT - LATER

Natalie is outside the front doors, visibly upset. Randy appears.

RANDY
Natalie! You're still here?

NATALIE
Randy! Thank God you're here. They kicked me out.

RANDY
Kicked you out?

NATALIE
You have to help me. Mr. Monk is still inside. He's been there for hours.

Randy and Natalie walk inside.

INT. SUNNYLAND FOYER - MOMENTS LATER

As Randy and Natalie walk into the foyer, Doctor Randall is exiting the elevator.

NATALIE
Doctor Randall!

DOCTOR RANDALL
Oh! Yes...Miss?...

NATALIE
Natalie. I'm Mr. Monk's assistant. Do you know where he is? I've been waiting for hours!

Doctor Randall seems confused.

DOCTOR RANDALL
That's strange. He left quite a while ago?

NATALIE
That's impossible. I've been here the whole time. I would have seen him.

RANDY
Are you sure he left?

DOCTOR RANDALL
(to the Guard)
Can you come here for a second?

GUARD
Sir?

DOCTOR RANDALL
Did you see Mr. Monk leave? He's a short fellow. Dark, curly hair. Beige suit.

GUARD
Yes sir. A few hours ago, actually.

Natalie is angry. She is shaking her head.

NATALIE
Nuh, uh. I'd have seen him. There's no way he left without me.

GUARD
He went out the side exit, I think over there.

RANDY
Are you sure?

GUARD
Absolutely. We've got cameras on the exits. I can show you, if you'd like.

RANDY
Please.

Randy leaves with the guard.

DOCTOR RANDALL
Well, there we are, then. Mystery solved! He looked a little out of sorts when I spoke with him. Perhaps he want home to rest.

NATALIE
Mr. Monk wouldn't do that.

DOCTOR RANDALL
What can I say? People are full of surprises. I'm sure he'll turn up.

Doctor Randall leaves. Standing alone, Natalie looks worried.

NATALIE
Mr. Monk?

INT. SUNNYLAND PATIENT'S ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Monk is sitting alone, on a bed. His head is bandaged, and he is adjusting it. The bandage is on a slant, and he is trying to make it level. The door to his room opens. ISSAC looks in.

ISSAC
Hey there, new guy?

MONK
Can...can I help you?

ISSAC
I'm Isaac. You're neighbor. What's your name?

MONK
Monk. Adrian Monk.

ISSAC
Really, that's not what it says on your door. Is this your room?

MONK
No. It's not my room. It's not my anything. I'm not supposed to be here.

ISSAC
Where are you supposed to be?

MONK
Not here.

ISSAC
I know where I'm supposed to be.

MONK
Good for you.

ISAAC
You want to know where that is?

MONK
Not really.

ISAAC
Dinner! It's dinner time! Want to go?

MONK
The only place I want to go is out of here. You know how I can do that?

ISAAC
Sure! I know the way.

Monk's head snaps up, surprised.

MONK
You do?

ISAAC
You bet! Come on, I'll show you!

Monk gets up and follows Isaac out into the hallway.

MONK
Are you sure you know the way out of here?

ISAAC
Of course I do!

INT. SUNNYLAND COMMON ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Monk and Isaac enter into a large common room. There are numerous patients milling about. Three large orderlies stand watch around the periphery of the room. There is a TV on in the far corner showing the local news. Patients are lining up at a counter, waiting to be served trays of food.

MONK
So...so how do I get out? Where's the exit?

Isaac points to a door guarded by an orderly.

ISAAC
There!

MONK
But there's someone there! And he's huge!

ISAAC
You bet! And even if you get past him, they have cameras throughout the halls, which means that security would see you leaving!

Monk is angry.

MONK
You lied!

Isaac is indignant.

ISAAC
No I didn't! You wanted to know the way out, and that's the way out. So you ready to eat?

MONK
Eat?

EXT. SUNNYLAND RETREAT - MOMENTS LATER

Randy returns, and walks up to Natalie.

RANDY
They're right. He left.

NATALIE
Are you sure?

RANDY
I saw the tapes myself. He went out the side door.

NATALIE
I can't believe it!

RANDY
Neither can I.

NATALIE
Something must be wrong. We have to find him. Can you get stottlemeyer?

RANDY
Got it.

Randy doesn't move. He pulls out his phone and tapping out a text message.

NATALIE
Randy! What are you doing?

RANDY
Getting stottlemeyer.

Natalie grabs his phone out of his hands. She throws it into the grass.

RANDY (CONT'D)
Hey!

NATALIE
This isn't time for an instant message.

Randy pulls another phone out of his pocket.

NATALIE (CONT'D)
Another phone?

RANDY
I'll make a call.

NATALIE
Okay. Fine. Just tell him what happened, that Mr. Monk is missing.

Randy dials, and a ringing sound can be heard a short distance away. Natalie looks confused.

RANDY
There it is!

Randy walks a short distance and picks up his phone.

NATALIE
Are you kidding me? Two phones?

RANDY
What? They were on sale. I got one for stottlemeyer too. Come to think of it, I'm probably going to regret that. He keeps texting me all the time.

NATALIE
Call!

RANDY
No. He likes to text for some reason.

NATALIE
No! Call him!

RANDY
Oh! Yeah, of course.

Randy dials the phone.

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