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 THREE
EXT. SAN FRANCISCO - UNKNOWN STREET - NIGHT
Natalie is driving along a city street, looking for Monk.
NATALIE
Mr. Monk? Mr. Monk?
She calls out his name continuously as she drives.
INT. POLICE STATION - MOMENTS LATER
Captain Stottlemeyer is briefing a group of police officers. Randy is with him.
STOTTLEMEYER
Now we all what Monk looks like, and how he his. Keep an eye out for odd behavior. Canvass people in your areas and see what you can turn up.
The officer start to move off, when Stottlemeyer stops them.
STOTTLEMEYER (CONT'D)
And remember! We believe he may be disturbed, and not himself, so be careful!
RANDY
Captain, what should we do?
STOTTLEMEYER
Well Randy, I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
INT. SUNNYLAND PATIENT'S ROOM - MORNING
A light turns on and Monk's eyes open. The light is too bright, so he shades his eyes as he sits up in his bed.
NURSE AKIKO (O.S.)
Rise and shine Mr. Johnson.
The Japanese Nurse walks into view, in front of Monk. Monk isn't looking up at her yet. He's holding his head in his hands.
MONK
Mr. Johnson? Why do you all keep calling me that? My name is...
Monk looks up and recognizes the nurse.
MONK (CONT'D)
You!
NURSE AKIKO
Because that's your name, Mr. Johnson. That's why you're here. So we can help you.
Monk looks panicked.
MONK
You're not trying to help me! You're in on this!
Monk starts to stand up, but the nurse pushes him back on the bed.
MONK (CONT'D)
(Screaming)
Help! Help! Somebody!
Monk starts to get up again, and the nurse pushes him back, but he struggles with her.
NURSE AKIKO
Help me hold him down!
An orderly runs into the room and grabs Monk, pinning his arms behind his back. The nurse pulls a needle out of her pocket and jabs it into Monk.
MONK
No! Don't! Not that...
Monk looks woozy, but doesn't fall unconscious.
MONK (CONT'D)
This is not the same thing that you...
(mumbles)
Have you seen Natalie? My sandwich has a vacuum cleaner.
Monk slumps down on his bed. Not unconscious, but not in control. He has been drugged.
INT. SUNNYLAND DOCTOR RANDALL'S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER
Doctor Randall is sitting at his desk, working on some paper work. Nurse Akiko walks into the room, angry.
NURSE AKIKO
We have to do something about him. We can't keep him forever.
Doctor Randall looks up at her, and takes his reading glass off.
DOCTOR RANDALL
Well we can't kill him.
NURSE AKIKO
Why not?
DOCTOR RANDALL
Are you kidding? He's too recognizable!
NURSE AKIKO
How? I've never heard of him.
DOCTOR RANDALL
Maybe you haven't but half the city has. If he turned up dead somewhere, we'd have the cops at our door before we could blink. As it is, we're under too much scrutiny now. We can't take chances.
NURSE AKIKO
If he's as famous as you say, then somebody inside is going to recognize him sooner or later. What do you want me to do?
DOCTOR RANDALL
Well...I don't know. We don't really have the facilities to keep him isolated. We can only seal off the one wing. Maybe...maybe we could distract him? I was doing a little research, and he's a complete basket case. He's afraid of everything.
(Beat)
Maybe we could play that up.
Nurse Akiko smiles, understanding.
NURSE AKIKO
Make him crazy for real. So the others will want to stay away from him.
DOCTOR RANDALL
Then when people have forgotten about him, he'll just disappear.
EXT. CITY PARK
ANGLE ON
Monk's face, close up. He's smiling dreamily. The camera shifts back away from Monk, and he is flying, or floating prone in the air. His arms are out to the side. He seems happy, then he looks down. He screams.
MONK
Ahhhh!
The Monk is standing on the ground. He is patting himself, checking what happened, looking over himself for signs of dirt. Monk looks up and sees a Merry-Go-Round, it is slowly spinning.
MONK (CONT'D)
(Softly, smiling)
A merry go round.
Monk walks up and touches his finger to each pole as it slowly passes. Then the merry go round speeds up. Monk touches the poles faster and faster as they pass him. Soon the merry go round is spinning so fast that Monk can't keep up, and he's panicking.
Then TRUDY calls out to him
TRUDY (O.S.)
Adrian?
Monk turns his head and sees Trudy. His hands are still trying touch the poles.
MONK
Trudy?
TRUDY
You have to get on Adrian.
MONK
Get on? How? It's going too fast!
TRUDY
You have to see from the inside out.
MONK
Inside out? What does that even mean?
TRUDY
Adrian. Please. Get on.
Monk is at a loss for words. He looks at the rapidly spinning merry go round. He looks back at Trudy.
Then, Monk is on. He is surprised. He had not moved. But he is now on the merry go round. The camera is close up on his face. The world behind him is spinning rapidly. The camera moves away. Monk is holding on for dear life.
MONK
Okay! What do I do now?
Monk looks around. He doesn't see Trudy.
MONK (CONT'D)
Trudy? Trudy!
(Beat)
Where are you?
VOICE (O.S.)
I'm right here!
Monk looks around. He is still on the merry go round. It is still spinning.
MONK
Where? I can't see you!
VOICE (O.S.)
Open your eyes!
MONK
They are open! Where are you?
VOICE (O.S.)
Open your eyes!
INT. SUNNYLAND PATIENT'S ROOM
Nurse Rashid is kneeling over Monk. He is on the floor. She holds his head up. Monk opens his eyes.
MONK
Trudy?
NURSE RASHID
Mr. Johnson. Are you all right?
Monk is baffled. His head jerks. He looks all around.
MONK
I...I was...
Nurse Rashid picks up his chart. She looks confused.
NURSE RASHID
There must have been a mix up in your meds. I don't see...
Monk shakes his head. He waves his arm back and forth.
MONK
Needle!...there was a needle!...I don't even know if it was clean! Do you have a wipe? I need a wipe. Or some soap. Or a knife. Maybe I can cut the flesh around it, and you can cauterize it. Do you have a lighter, or a blowtorch? A blowtorch would work. That's probably the best thing.
Nurse Rashid looks at him strangely.
NURSE RASHID
Did you say needle?
Monk nods his head.
MONK
Yes. The nurse. Other...other nurse. The, um...
Monk waves his hand in front of his face in a circle. Nurse Rashid copies this motion.
NURSE RASHID
(Confused)
The mystery nurse?
Monk shakes his head and circles his hand in front of his face some more.
NURSE RASHID (CONT'D)
Wax on, wax off?
Monk looks confused.
MONK
She...the...different one..
NURSE RASHID
Different one? You mean Nurse Akiko? The word is "Japanese" Mr. Johnson.
(Angrily)
And I have to tell you, that's a pretty rude thing to say. We don't accept racism here at Sunnyland.
Monk looks mortified.
MONK
What!? No! I, I meant...
Nurse Rashid smiles, and laughs.
NURSE RASHID
Don't worry. I'm just pushing your buttons. Still, I think there was a mix up. I'll look into it.
Nurse Rashid gets up to leave.
MONK
Wait? Where are you going?
NURSE RASHID
Don't worry Mr. Johnson. You'll be fine. Just go and get some lunch.
MONK
Lunch? What time is it?
NURSE RASHID
Lunch time!
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