"EVIL STAR"

adapted by

Sangeeta Ranade

based on the novel by

Anthony Horowitz

INT. EASTFIELD TERRACE

GWENDA DAVIS walks quickly past large, Victorian houses. She is dressed shabbily, and her hair is a mess. She couldn't look more out of place...

Gwenda keeps walking until she comes to a house that stands out from the others—the front garden is overflowing with junk, weeds are growing unchecked. Gwenda wades through the debris, to get to the front door. She pulls out a key, and looks around nervously before opening the door and stepping inside.

CUT TO:

INT. GWENDA'S HOUSE

The interior of Gwenda's house is much like the exterior—it appears a tornado has hit. Gwenda scrambles to the television set and turns it on. She takes a seat next to BRIAN CONRAN. We can only see a sliver of him, sitting on the couch. But Gwenda doesn't notice him, all her attention is on the T.V. screen.

ANNOUNCER
And now, it's time once again to

take your chances and spin...the

Big Wheel!

Camera focuses on the screen. The words, 'BIG WHEEL' are splayed across the screen. Money notes fall from the top, wiping away the words to reveal a studio audience, applauding a figure walking down flashing stairs. It is REX MCKENNA, the Big Wheel host. He is escorted by two ladies, wearing showy dresses. They leave him at the bottom of the stairs, and he smiles after them. Rex turns to the audience.

REX

Good Evening! Who knows whose

going to win tonight? beat

Only the wheel knows!

The studio audience erupts into applause.

REX

But before we get started, I

want to have a quick word

with a very special lady...

Rex leans towards the camera, his face filling the screen.

REX

Hello, Gwenda.

From here we CUT BETWEEN THEM:

GWENDA

whispering Hello, Rex.

REX

And how are you tonight, my love?

GWENDA

I'm alright...

REX

Well, listen. I wonder if you've

given any thought to what we were

talking about? Matthew Freeman?

Have you decided what we're going to

have to do about him?

Gwenda looks unsure.

REX

He made a fool out of you. He came

into your house and ruined

everything! You're a mess, Gwenda.

GWENDA

It's not my fault...

REX

I know it's not your fault; that's

why I believe the boy ought to be

punished.

GWENDA

Punished...?

REX

Just like you punished Brian for

being so rude to you.

CUT TO Gwenda. Now we can see why Brian was so quiet! We can see the hilt of a knife sticking out of his chest. There are blood stains all over. Gwenda glances at him and then back at the television screen.

GWENDA

I don't know where he is.

REX

I know. He goes to a school called

Forrest Hill near Yorkshire. That's

near Lesser Malling. You know what

Matt did in Lesser Malling, Gwenda?

Gwenda nods weakly.

REX

He upset some good friends of mine.

In fact, he killed them. He killed

them all! A whole town. In fact,

he was responsible for another

death. He could have saved his parents

from dying, Gwenda. And he did nothing.

If you ask me, there's no question about

it. He needs to be punished.

CLOSE UP on Rex's face. For the first time he looks less like a t.v host and more menacing.

REX

He needs to be punished very

severely indeed.

CUT TO:

Opening Credits