The Time Machine Page #4

MRS. WATCHETT (frightened)

There!...there...

All stare o.s., Hillyer with the carving knife

clasped in his hand.

CORRIDOR THROUGH DOORWAY - FULL SHOT 10

We see the figure of a man approaching, a black

silhouette against the pale glow at the end of

the passage. He is bent with exhaustion and

sways as he moves forward, limping. The man comes

closer, his features still blacked out by shadows,

but as he nears the doorway, the light from the

room strikes first his legs, then his body and

finally his face. Here he stops.

This is our first meeting with the TIME TRAVELLER

(for so it will be convenient to speak of him). At

this instant he is in a sorry state. His clothing

is tattered and dirty, his face pale, bruised and

scratched and his eyes glazed with fatigue. For

a moment he hesitates as if dazzled by the light

and then takes another swaying step into the room.

FILBY AND BRIDEWELL - MOVING SHOT 11

They come to life. Bridewell, noticing the glass

of wine still in his hand, quickly gulps it down

before rushing with Filby toward the Time Traveller.

FILBY:

Good lord! - What's happened?

Reaching him, each seizes an elbow to support him.

Bridewell throws a frantic glance at Dr. Hillyer

back at the table. The Time Traveller, however,

moves forward under his own power.

TIME TRAVELLER:

I'm all right...just some food...a

drink...

He reaches the table and sinks into his chair. With

trembling hands Bridewell tries to pour him a glass

of wine, spilling most of it over the tablecloth.

The Time Traveller looks up at him with a wry smile.

TIME TRAVELLER:

Are you all right?

A stunned Bridewell is unable to speak while the Time

Traveller empties his glass.

BRIDEWELL (a delayed

answer)

Of course. I'm...all right...

Meanwhile, Mrs. Watchett hovers over the Time Traveller

like a mother hen.

MRS. WATCHETT (half

apology, half concern)

I didn't recognize you!...it was

so dark...

The CAMERA MOVES IN as she dishes up a bowl of soup

for him, but he pushes it away.

TIME TRAVELLER:

Meat...I'm hungry for meat!

Mrs. Watchett grasps the carving knife from Dr.

Hillyer and, with a single slash, cuts off a huge

portion of beef and loads it onto his plate.

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