Title: "Landing Party" - Pilot Episode

INT. CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS - DAY

Captain PHILIP COOK, a middle-aged man garbed in a late 18th century officer’s uniform, studies an outdated map with determination. Arrayed around him are some stereotypical explorer's paraphernalia, he carries an ostentatious compass on his belt. With him are his first mate, HARPER, and his porter JAMIE. Jamie is attempting to measure the captain up for a new coat as he confidently goes about his nonsensical navigation. The captain lives under the misapprehension that he is related to the famous Captain James Cook who died some 10 years prior, and is completely oblivious to the fact that his entire crew are clearly women disguised poorly as men.

COOK

(Bubbling with excitement over his map)

We've been on this heading for four months. I can smell land just 

beyond the horizon. It’s just as my calculations have predicted

all along. A new land, waiting to be discovered. Prepare for 

adventure, gentlemen!

HARPER

(Winking at a flustered Jamie)

Of course Sir. Ye’ve never steered us wrong before.

EXT. SHIP'S DECK - DAY

The ship, named "The Endeavor 2," sails through waters marked on the captains map with Here Be Dragons. The crew, a diverse group of women in standard sailors uniforms and in awful disguises such as terribly drawn on facial hair, carry out various maritime tasks. Harper, the first mate, subtly points out the obvious to her newest crew member.

HARPER

(leaning toward RYAN)

Ryan, you’ve no reason to be nervous lass, don’t ye think if the captain

 was going to notice yer a woman he might not have spotted one of 

us some time ago?

Harper leans torward her a little, squeezes her breasts between her arms and shimmies at the fresh-faced recruit, smiling slyly. Ryan shakes her head, suppressing a laugh.

RYAN

(low voice)

I’ve no idea what you could mean there ma’am. 

But I suppose you’re right. It's almost impressive, really.

EXT. SHIP'S CROW'S NEST - DAY

DEVIN, the lookout, squints through a spyglass and suddenly jumps, squealing with excitement and nearly dropping the spyglass.

DEVIN

(excitedly)

Land ho! Captain Cook, we've found new land!

HARPER

(Under her breath)

Veeery unlikely.

The captain bursts out of his quarters, chest puffed up and half a new coat dangling from him haphazardly as Jamie grasps wildly at wayward strips of fabric attempting to pin them in place. The captain strides purposefully to the prow and lifts an oversized and highly polished collapsable spyglass to his eye, with a wide grin he addresses his crew.

COOK

Thank you lads, you’ve made an old pirate very proud.

I, of course, knew it was only a matter of time and tenacity.

Tonight we shall dine ashore!

There is light scattered applause as the captain marches triumphantly back to his cabin, Jamie still in tow, his jacket slightly more complete.

ECT. SHIP'S DECK -  LATE AFTERNOON

Captain Cook rushes to Devin as they are lowering supplies into a rowboat, his face beaming with anticipation.

COOK

(to Devin)

Excellent work, Devin. Prepare the landing party. We shall 

establish a foothold on the beachhead!

(Shouting back over the throng of sailors preparing to leave the ship)

Set lines, men! I want fresh fish over fire before the sun sets!

CREW

(Together)

Aye-aye cap’n.

EXT. BEACH CAMP - EVENING

A few lean-to shelters have been constructed out of driftwood and other beach debris along a short stretch of sand. 

A dozen fishing rods are set in the sand with their lines out into the gentle surf. Cook sits next to one of several meagre campfires, flask in hand, there are no fish cooking. He looks downtrodden. The sailors munch somberly on the same rations they have been for months.

HARPER

Cap’n, p’raps if the newbie and I do a little scoutin’ about, 

we might scrounge up some grub.

She beckons Ryan over, Ryan has a large pack on her back . The pack is busting at the seams with equipment, items swing from the sides and clank together as she runs. She smiles encouragingly at the captain.

COOK

(Smiling weakly)

How could I refuse when you’re already so clearly ready

for anything? Off you go, make sure to note anything worth 

going back to investigate in the light of day.

HARPER

Aye Sir, we’ll bring you back something pretty. Promise.

EXT. BUSH - EVENING

As the pair leave the sand, crossing the boundary into the bush and leaving the light of the fire, Harper grabs the pack off Ryan’s shoulders and drops it to the ground. Ryan looks perplexed.

HARPER

Don’t be silly girl, that nonsense will just slow you down.

Come on, I spotted something this way.

EXT. BUSH - NIGHT

Harper and Ryan break through the trees to see a bustling festival taking place in a cove on the other side of a rock escarpment from the beach landing site. A few hundred people wander around food stalls and carnival games, there are paper lanterns strung about lighting the area in a myriad of pastel colours. The pair look at each other in surprise.

RYAN

(Exasperated)

We’ve got to tell everyone! The captain will be so 

disappointed, we didn’t discover anything new after all.

HARPER

Not so hasty there rook, hows about we go take a wee look

before we go running off to tell anyone. We don’t yet know

what we’ve really found, do we?

EXT. LOCAL FESTIVAL - NIGHT

Ryan awkwardly follows Harper’s confident path through the festival goers. No one appears to be exchanging money for any of the goods at the stalls, so Harper gets in line for something she likes the smell of.

RYAN

(Whispering)

What are you doing? Someone will catch us!

HARPER

(Receiving skewered meat)

Look around dingus, this is a party. Aint no one looking

out for anything, these people are just here to have 

a good time. Now take one of these, they’re amazing.

EXT. BEACH CAMP - NIGHT

Harper and Ryan sit next to an impressive campfire, a circle of skewered meats surrounds the fire and the smell has gathered quite a crowd.

COOK

Well now! What do we have here? It looks like you lads

had quite the successful outing. That smells wonderful. 

Dare I ask what fantastical local creature the meat is from?

No. I probably don’t want to know, tell me everything 

tomorrow. Tonight, we eat!

A cheer rises from the crew gathered around the fire. Harper and Ryan promptly distribute the glossy dripping meat around, flasks are drawn from pockets and the crew enjoy the best meal they’ve had in recent memory.

Sitting next to the captain while he eagerly devours his chicken skewer, Harper reaches into her pocket and pulls something shiny out.

HARPER

What did I promise, cap? Here ye’are, something

shiny. Just like I said.

She hands him a polished arrowhead she pulled from one of the carnival games.

HARPER

It looks like we might not be alone on this island.

I think it’s worth stayin’ put here for a while, let me

and the lads get a better lay of the land. You’re too

Important for us to risk losing you.

COOK

(Seriously)

Good man, I can always count on you. I whole-heartedly

agree with your assessment. Set a perimeter and 

arrange scouting parties, report back once we know if 

the local savage are still around. We can make 

further plans from there.

HARPER

Aye Sir, you can count on me.

EXT. BEACH HUT - MORNING

Ryan sits around a small fire with a few of the other crew, a kettle sits atop the flames and they each have a cup of hot coffee in their hands.

COREY

(Incredulous)

Define ‘festival’ for me.

RYAN

I mean just what I said, a festival. Like any you

might have been to before. Games and food and 

music, coloured lights and people dancing and

having a good time. A festival.

JORDAN

And you didn’t tell the captain? What’s Harper

up to this time?

Harper steps into the circle and grabs the kettle and pours herself a cup of coffee.

HARPER

Harper was thinking what the captain doesn’t know

can’t make our lives more difficult. 

She takes a seat on a vacant treestump and continues conspiratorially.

HARPER

As long as the captain doesn’t know this isn’t 

actually an undiscovered paradise, ripe for plunder

and colonisation, the longer we can keep on eating

well and maybe making some new friends.

JORDAN

While I realise the captain is who he is, you can’t keep

that up forever. He’s eventually gonna wanna leave this

beach and stake his claim on the land, such as it is.

COREY

She’s right, we can probably keep him around here under

some pretense or another for a week or so, but much longer

and we’re gonna need some kind of plan.

The group of ladies stares into the sputtering flames, thinking about what they might do to maintain their rouse as long as possible..

RYAN

What if we just ask them for help?

COREY

Them? The islanders?

HARPER

(Chuckling)

Aye, she’s right. They seemed a decent bunch. I’m sure 

they’ll get a kick out of it.

The script sets up the premise for a comedic adventure series with elements of misunderstanding and cultural exploration. The character interactions with the locals will provide opportunities for humorous situations, as they humour the captain while forming genuine connections with the villagers.

Long term the intention is to have the crew go to great lengths to keep a broad range of secrets from the captain. Many of the women have escaped manipulative family situations, abusive relationships or are avoiding the authorities. They want to settle down and start new lives. 

Each plot to cover a secret will fail in such a fashion any normal person would immediately register the truth of the situation, and yet somehow the captain never does. He will stumble upon his crew in compromising situations and not click that any of them are women, he will somehow not notice the people they meet on the island speak pretty good english already, he won’t notice that familiar technology or products must have come from Europe and will be amazed at the ingenuity of the ‘noble savage’.

After some imagined sleight or conflict the captain will start a ‘war’ and the crew and locals will band together to stage a battle for him, anointing him the victor and granting him a symbolic position of power to keep him happy.

A recurring feature might be something like a voiceover of the captain writing a letter to his fiance back home about his tribulations and discoveries only for the reveal at the end of the season of his fiance back home be a man poorly disguised as a woman.

Bad News

Short Film (sci-fi/time loop)

A short screenplay exploring sacrifice and agency through a time loop that repeats until someone dares to break it.

INT. CLASSROOM #1. DAY

ANDREW wakes up at his desk and notices a TV screen that has been rolled into class by the substitute teacher. The news of a violent car crash appears on screen while the sub fumbles with the VCR, revealing one of the students is a victim. The class is fixated on the NEWS ANCHOR.

NEWS ANCHOR

And in today’s news, a young girl and her driver have been pronounced dead at the scene of a fiery wreck off the eastern highway.

The news anchor reads out the girl’s name and her photo appears on screen.

NEWS ANCHOR

The young lady, Emma Smith, age 15, a student at Melbourne Senior Secondary College. Was the passenger in her father’s car, en-route to a swimming competition when the car was struck.

EVELYN sits in the desk in front of him, cries out, bursting into tears and she clutches at the small friendship pendant around her neck.

INT. CLASSROOM #1. DAY

Andrew wakes again in the same class, the same TV in front of him, the same news report rolls across the screen.

NEWS ANCHOR

And in today’s news, a young girl and her driver have been pronounced dead-

He looks around a bit dazed. Evelyn in front of him cries as expected, he reaches forward to console her.

ANDREW

(whispering)

I’m so sorry, Evelyn.

She abruptly shifts away from his hand, turning her chair and glaring at him.

The bell rings. The clock reads 10:00am

INT. CLASSROOM #2. SAME DAY

Asleep at his desk again, Andrew is woken suddenly by a chalk-board eraser crashing into his desk. He sits up sharply, coughing in a cloud of chalk dust.

TEACHER

(loudly)

Mr. Johnson, are you with us now?

He glances toward the front of the class, the French teacher looks smugly back at him while the class laughs.

Recalling the interrupted dream as best he can we see the flash of a blade, Evelyn screaming, a physical struggle, a conversation with her, a wristwatch reading 4:57pm, the teacher throwing the eraser, Evelyn on the ground, her hands covered in blood.

He looks across the class at her, she makes eye contact but quickly turns away in disgust.

The bell rings.

INT. CLASSROOM #3. 11.30AM

The students take their seats in pairs, collecting items for an experiment from the teacher’s desk at the front. Andrew sits alone.

TEACHER

You’re with Evelyn today Mr.

Johnson.

Andrew moves desks to sit with Evelyn. They sit quietly at the bench, Evelyn makes no attempt to engage with Andrew.

ANDREW

Don’t worry about the

assignment, I can do it.

One of the guys at the desk next to them attaches an electrical lead to her pencil case and turns on the power. Andrew spots the lead as the pencil case starts to smoke and a small flame appears. He pulls it away angrily and smothers the flame with his jumper.

Evelyn thanks him and the pair talk about her friend for the rest of the class, ignoring the assignment.

EXT. GRASS OVAL. 12.45PM 5

Andrew walks alone outside, thinking to himself.

ANDREW (V/O)

What do these dreams mean? How do I keep her safe?

A montage of the flash of a blade, Evelyn’s smile, that watch reading 4:57pm, Evelyn on the ground.

ANDREW (V/O)

Do I tell her?

Beat.

ANDREW (V/O)

(CONT’D)

No, no she’ll think I’m

crazy.

INT. KITCHEN. 1.30PM

The class is designated partners again, this time he is forced to work with the ARSONIST.

ARSONIST

Alright, dickhead, let’s get

this over with.

The ingredients sit on the bench untouched. Evelyn walks past.

EVELYN

Cocksucker.

The arsonist casually waves his chef’s knife in her direction and Andrew catches his wrist. He twists the knife out of the arsonist’s grip and shoves him back into his seat.

ANDREW

What was that shit about anyway? You know she just lost her friend, right?

He sits back down.

ARSONIST

Fuck off, mate.

They silently begin to do the work.

ANDREW(V/O)

Did I do it? Is she safe?

INT. HALLWAY. 3PM

Andrew and Evelyn meet at their lockers as the bell rings for the end of the day.

ANDREW

Can I walk you home?

She flashes a quick smile.

EVELYN

I guess so.

EXT. STREET. LATE AFTERNOON

The pair depart from a café together and begin to walk toward home.

EVELYN

Thanks for sticking up for me today. I’ve been a mess since this morning.

He makes a move to hold her hand. She lets him.

ANDREW

I’m sorry about your friend. I know how close you two were.

They turn a corner and step into the shadow of a building. A man with his face covered approaches from the shadows.

MUGGER

Gimme your shit. Money. Phones. Now.

Andrew steps in front to protect Evelyn and hands over the items carefully. The mugger slides the items into the pocket on the front of his hoodie.

MUGGER

Come on. The necklace too.

Evelyn cries and clutches the pendant, shaking her head furiously.

EVELYN

 (crying)

No! You can’t have it!

The mugger draws a knife from somewhere, the blade catching the sunlight. He reaches with his other hand for the necklace.

Andrew steps forward and goes to block his hand. He catches the man’s wrist by his watch. The knife strikes him in the gut.

The mugger bolts, his watch falling to the pavement. Andrew slumps to the ground. Evelyn catches him awkwardly.

A montage of the teacher throwing the eraser, a conversation with Evelyn, flash of a blade, a physical struggle. The montage ends.

Evelyn screams and cradles him, blood covering them both.

The Mugger’s watch reads 4:57pm.

CREDITS