INT. PRINTING PRESS
HENRY, a 19 year old young man, sits scribbling furiously at
a cramped secretary’s desk, a wedding ring on his finger,
quill in hand. A distinguished looking older gentleman walks
into the room and peers over Henry’s shoulder.
MR. HIGGS
Good work Henry! It’s a fine job
you’ve been doing.
He claps him on the back and places a handful of coins on
his desk.
MR. HIGGS
There you go!
Henry pulls his watch out of his pocket and looks at the
time. He jumps up excitedly and scoops the money swiftly
into his pocket and grabs his coat and flings it on.
HENRY
Thank you, Mr. Higgs! I’ll see you
tomorrow!
Henry runs out of the shop. Mr. Higgs chuckles.
EXT. BOARDING HOUSE
ELIZABETH, a beautiful young 18 year old woman pulls the
door shut to her house and runs excitedly down the street,
clutching a slick new felt top hat in one hand and a picnic
basket in her other, ring-adorned, hand.
EXT. LONDON STREETS - DAY
We see shops lining the streets of London around 1830’s.
Henry walks briskly around the corner, whistling happily.
EXT. LONDON STREETS - DAY
Elizabeth stops at a corner stand where a young girl is
selling flowers and a small selection of produce. Elizabeth
picks up a piece of fruit and smells it, longingly.
Elizabeth reluctantly sighs and sets it back down with both
hands. She picks up a couple of potatoes and places them in
her basket and turns around to see Henry standing behind
her. She gasps and throws herself into his embrace.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
2.
ELIZABETH
Oh love! I missed you!
They kiss. Elizabeth excitedly holds up the hat.
HENRY
What’s this?!
ELIZABETH
Surprise! I made it.
Henry bursts into a grin and places the hat onto his head.
ELIZABETH
Now that you’ve found yourself a
respectable job, you need to look
the part.
He looks at himself in a darkened window, his mouth agape.
HENRY
Elizabeth! You made this?! It’s
wonderful! Thank you darling!
He embraces her again.
ELIZABETH
Oh, I’m so glad!
HENRY
Here, let me have that!
Henry takes the basket from her and adds a small fruit.
ELIZABETH
Henry!
He pulls Elizabeth close, kissing her on the cheek.
HENRY
I saw you looking.
Elizabeth shakes her head.
ELIZABETH
You’re much too thoughtful!
She takes the basket back from him and turns away,
delighted. She sees the London theater and she gazes
longingly at the palatial building. Henry digs into his
pockets and pulls out a coin and hands it to the vendor.
Seeing Elizabeth continue to fantasize over the theater,
Henry pulls another coin out from his pocket and puts his
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
3.
fingers to his lips, motioning to the girl to hand him a
flower. She picks one up and reaches to hand it to Henry,
and Elizabeth turns back and catches him, slapping his hand.
ELIZABETH
(Hisses)
Henry! That’s enough, stop buying
me things!
Henry sheepishly returns the flower, and gives the flower
girl an apologetic look. Elizabeth takes his hand.
ELIZABETH
You know we can’t afford that love.
HENRY
(sighs)
I can’t help it! I want to give you
the world!
She giggles and they walk forward.
ELIZABETH
Your heart’s more than enough.
She looks up at him, and he smiles down at her, kissing her
forehead. They snuggle closer, walking happily, arm in arm.
INT. BOARDING HOUSE - NIGHT
Elizabeth and Henry are in their separate beds, and
Elizabeth is sleeping, an angelic look on her face. Henry
watches her sleep, then turns on his back and stares at the
ceiling, pressing his lips together tightly. You can see the
wheels in his head turning. He sits up and grabs a shirt.
EXT. LOADING DOCKS - NIGHT
Henry is dressed in work clothes, looking a little lost. He
walks down the docks and sees a boat being unloaded by a
couple of men. They work furiously, like ants, tossing sack
after heavy sack onto the dock. Henry goes up to a man
barking orders.
BURLY MAN
Burt, don’t put those there! They
need to be as far from the edge as
possible!
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
4.
HENRY
Pardon me sir...
The man turns to Henry. He eyes him critically.
BURLY MAN
Yes? Looking for work?
Henry nods, looking uncertain.
INT. BOARDING HOUSE - SUNRISE
Henry takes off his cap and sits down on his own bed. He
digs into his trouser’s pocket, coming out with a handful of
coins and places them on his pillow. Henry undresses,
removing his trousers and socks. He thoughtfully picks up
one of the socks, picks up the coins and drops them in.
Henry shoves the sock under the mattress and quietly slips
under the sheets, closing his eyes. The full moon outside
the window shines down on Henry, and we
FADE TO:
EXT. LOADING DOCKS - NIGHT
The moon, now only a sliver, shines down on Henry as he
hurriedly tosses sacks out of a boat onto the dock with a
precision only gained from practice. He shivers and rubs his
arms and then coughs several times. He wipes his forehead
and continues working.
EXT. LONDON STREETS - NIGHT
Henry’s hands are buried deep into his pockets and he walks,
coughing, down the street towards the boarding house. He
sees a single shop that is lit by several lights inside. He
reads the sign: "Dr. Horace Lucien’s Wonders."
INT. DR. LUCIEN’S WONDERS
Henry walks in, and rubs his hands, briefly warming them. He
breaths on them, and begins to look around. The shop is full
of the strange and wondrous, the weird and hideous; nothing
like it ever seen before. His eyes dart from each colorful
and quirky trinket to the ominous shadows and shapes of
darker, more foreboding objects.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
5.
VOICE
Can I help you?
Henry turns. A strange looking man stands behind the
counter. He is wearing an ill-fitting coat with strange
symbols on it, and a worn hat sags from his head. Behind him
is an inset shelf that is covered in round orbs that look
like glowing glass globes.
HENRY
I only stepped in for a moment. Dr.
Horace Lucien I suppose?
The man nods solemnly.
HENRY
What exactly do you sell here?
DR. LUCIEN
Everything.
Henry looks confused. He steps up to the counter.
HENRY
What do you mean?
DR. LUCIEN
I can give you anything your heart
may desire. At a price.
Henry is slightly annoyed at the vague answer. He points to
the orbs behind Lucien.
HENRY
What are those?
Dr. Lucien turns and picks a rather large one off the shelf
and holds it up for Henry to see. Henry, blinking, peers
inside the glowing sphere, entranced.
DR. LUCIEN
(ominously)
What is it that you want?
Henry sees the sensuous outline of a woman’s body, head
down. The woman slowly tilts her head up and gazes into
Henry’s face. Henry takes a step back, surprised. He looks
at the spheres on the shelf and sees outlines of people, all
trapped inside the orbs. Henry shoots Dr. Lucien a confused
frown and quickly leaves, visibly disturbed. Dr. Lucien
calmly replaces the orb back onto the shelf.
6.
INT. BOARDING HOUSE - NIGHT
Henry comes in, and sits down on his bed, deep in thought.
He pulls the coins out of his pocket, and reaches under his
mattress, pulling out the sock, now full of money, and
quietly adds the night’s earnings to the collection. He
smiles, and puts the money under his bed and looks over at
his wife’s sleeping figure. He walks over to her bed and
gently kisses her hair.
FADE TO BLACK
INT. PRINTING PRESS - DAY
Henry is writing in his ledger, and coughs. He covers his
mouth, trying to stifle his sounds and Elizabeth walks into
the press. He looks up and smiles, standing to greet her.
Darling!
HENRY
She frowns and looks at him.
ELIZABETH
Are you feeling alright?
Of course!
HENRY
Henry shrugs it off and gathers his coat and new hat.
HENRY
Mr. Higgs! I’m leaving!
Mr. Higgs pokes out from a corner and barely waves.
MR. HIGGS
Oh! Elizabeth! You’ll excuse me,
for not coming out. You two have a
splendid evening!
Mr. Higgs gives Henry a wink.
ELIZABETH
This evening? Why? Darling? What’s
happening tonight?
She turns, questioningly to her husband. Mr. Higgs coughs,
and buries himself in his corner, embarrassed. Henry grins.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
7.
HENRY
It’s a surprise.
EXT. LONDON STREETS
Henry is stifling a smile, walking briskly through the fog,
Elizabeth at his elbow, bouncing up and down, pleading.
ELIZABETH
Tell me, please!
HENRY
(smirking)
I don’t think you understand the
meaning of the word surprise.
Henry takes out a pocket watch and glances at the time. It’s
a quarter to 8 o’clock.
HENRY
Come on! We’ll be late!
He grabs her by the hand and begins to run. Elizabeth
attempts to keep up, and holds him back.
ELIZABETH
Where on earth are you taking me?
HENRY
Elizabeth Purcell! You’re the most
impatient woman I’ve ever met!
They run down the street, laughing together, the fog parting
to let them pass, and curling behind them as they disappear.
EXT. LONDON THEATER - EVENING
They stop in front of a splendid theater, and Elizabeth
catches her breath.
ELIZABETH
Darling, I simply can’t keep going!
HENRY
Well, it just so happens, we’re
here!
He walks forward, pulling her behind him.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
8.
ELIZABETH
What?! Henry, don’t tease. You know
I’ve always wanted to come here!
HENRY
I’m not teasing. This is where I’m
taking you!
He walks to her, taking her by the waist, and scooting in,
gives her a kiss. Her expression becomes serious and she
pulls back.
ELIZABETH
You’re not serious? (beat) No! I’m
not letting you spend that kind of
money on me! I won’t have it!
She separates her hand from his, and folds her arms. Henry
slowly reaches into his pocket and pulls out two small
tickets. He pokes them in her direction.
HENRY
But I already have.
Elizabeth’s expression changes to shock, and joy.
Henry!?
ELIZABETH
She covers her face with her hands, and then looks around
self-consciously.
ELIZABETH
(hisses)
Where on earth did you get that
kind of money? We can’t possibly
afford...
Henry looks at his watch again.
HENRY
(interupting)
The programme begins in one minute,
now are you going to go in with me,
or will I have to go in alone?
Elizabeth bursts into the biggest smile and leaps to hug
Henry.
ELIZABETH
I love you!
9.
He laughs heartily and picks her up spinning her in the
right direction and they walk, springing on air, into the
theater entrance.
EXT. LONDON OPERA HOUSE - NIGHT
Henry and Elizabeth come out of the theater, the bustle of
the exiting crowd seemingly parts for the lovers as they
walk to the street. Thunder rumbles in the distance.
ELIZABETH
This has been the most amazing
night of my life! Darling...
She stops, the moment stalled by her thoughts. She turns.
ELIZABETH
Love. How on earth are we going to
pay for this?
Henry turns to her and kisses her.
HENRY
I’ve been working nights while you
slept so I could take you out on
the town.
ELIZABETH
Henry! You did that for me?! OH!
Darling!
She sighs and clings to him. They walk, still somewhat
embracing and pass a flower stand. Henry eyes it, and
Elizabeth catches him.
ELIZABETH
(playfully threatening)
Don’t you even dare!
Henry begins to cough. He doubles over and Elizabeth’s face
shows concern.
ELIZABETH
Are you alright?
Henry straightens, and she feels his face. She frowns.
ELIZABETH
Henry, you’re burning up!
10.
INT. BOARDING HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT
Elizabeth places a wet rag on Henry’s forehead as a loud
thunderclap sounds and lighting lights the small room. and
sits down on the edge of his bed. She kisses his face. Henry
is shivering uncontrollably as he coughs and coughs.
ELIZABETH
How long have you been working at
the docks?
HENRY
It was just for a little bit.
You’ve wanted to go to the theater
for so long. I just...
He coughs again, and Elizabeth manages a weak smile and
fingers her ring nervously. His cough has a sicking hollow
sound to it. Elizabeth looks genuinely scared.
ELIZABETH
I’m getting a doctor!
EXT. LONDON STREETS
Elizabeth runs down the street in the rain, weeping
fearfully. She stops, unable to continue. Her breaths come
in short gasps and she clutches at a shop windowpane to
steady herself. She peers inside and sees a strange curio
shop. She looks up and sees a sign that says "Dr. Horace
Lucien’s Wonders." She wipes her eyes.
INT. DR. LUCIEN’S WONDERS
Elizabeth cautiously enters the shop and looks around. She
walks up to the counter. Dr. Lucien has his back to her,
polishing an orb and he turns to face her. He sets the
glowing sphere on the counter.
ELIZABETH
You... You’re a doctor?
Of a sort.
DR. LUCIEN
ELIZABETH
My husband has the fever. I...
Her voice quivers, and she chokes back her fear.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
11.
ELIZABETH
I’ve got to have medicine. You’ve
got to help me. Please!
The doctor looks at her carefully. He turns and starts
looking up and down at his orbs lining the wall. He picks
one and returns to Elizabeth.
ELIZABETH
(hesitantly)
What is that?
DR. LUCIEN
How much do you love your husband?
Elizabeth looks at him confused.
DR. LUCIEN
What would you give to ensure his
survival?
ELIZABETH
Anything! I’d give you anything!
DR. LUCIEN
Are you quite sure about that? What
I can give you, make no mistake,
will cure your husband. But you
will have to sacrifice much.
Elizabeth slips her ring off and looks at it, hesitating,
then places it on the counter.
ELIZABETH
Here. Will this be enough?
DR. LUCIEN
No, no. You don’t understand.
He nods to the orb on the counter. Elizabeth peers into it,
then her eyes widen as she sees a human face staring back at
her. She steps back and she sees more figures inside each
orb, realizing the sacrifice intended. She thinks.
ELIZABETH
I’ll do it.
Very well.
DR. LUCIEN
He hands her the smaller sphere in his hand.
12.
INT. BOARDING HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT
Elizabeth slips in, drippng wet, leaving the door ajar. She
goes to the bed, standing over Henry, compassion plain on
her face. His coughs are sickening. She clutches the small
orb and looks down at it. She looks again at her husband,
then bends downand kisses his face, and runs her fingers
through his hair. Her eyes mist as she gazes on her husband.
ELIZABETH
I love you. I love you so much.
INT. BOARDING HOUSE - STAIRWELL - NIGHT
A brilliant glowing light shines from behind the door and a
high-pitched whine rings out. Henry’s coughs stop.
INT. BOARDING HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT
Henry opens his eyes, the color already flooding back to his
face. He pushes himself up and looks around. The whine has
dulled to the tiniest of ringings, and he looks down to see
Elizabeth’s ring, spinning on the ground, only to fall to
the floor. He gets up and picks it up. He falls back on the
bed, exhausted. He closes his eyes and we
FADE TO BLACK
INT. PRINTING PRESS - NIGHT
We fade up inside the printing press, as the words "1 Year
Later" appear. Henry sits with his back turned to us, in his
usual spot at the desk and is slowly scribbling by
candlelight in his log. The shot spins around Henry and we
see he looks much older than he should, wrinkles creeping
at the edges of his eyes, his hair mussed, and his face
unshaven. Mr. Higgs enters, and is startled to see Henry.
Henry!
MR. HIGGS
HENRY
(monotone)
Oh, Good evening Mr. Higgs.
MR. HIGGS
My boy, it’s night out! Whatever
can you be doing working so late?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
13.
Henry is silent and Mr. Higgs walks, concern showing on his
face and picks up Henry’s tattered coat and puts it around
him. He reaches for Henry’s top hat. Henry suddenly perks up
and picks it up before Higgs.
HENRY
No, no! Let me...
MR. HIGGS
Henry. When was the last time you
got some rest? You can’t bury
yourself in work. Go home.
Henry clutches the still-pristine top hat that Elizabeth
gave him, and absently nods his head.
EXT. LONDON STREETS - PAWN SHOP - NIGHT
Henry walks outside and passes a pawnbroker’s shop and eyes
it sadly. He pulls out Elizabeth’s ring and breifly glances
at it. Henry then angrily turns his back on the pawn shop
and shoves the ring deep into his pocket. He notices a
familiar form turn a corner, and he suddenly becomes very
alert. He starts running.
EXT. LONDON STREETS - NIGHT
Henry turns the corner, chasing madly after the woman, and
calls out:
Elizabeth!
HENRY
The girl turns and looks at him, fearful. Henry stops dead
in his tracks as the woman’s confused face registers no
recognition of him, and he realizes it’s not her. He
suddenly slumps. The girl quickly disappears and Henry
blindly walks forward. He narrowly misses walking into a
sign, and he looks up at it. It reads: "Dr. Horace Lucien’s
Wonders." Henry stares, zombie like. A man slips past him
into the shop. Henry slowly enters.
INT. DR. LUCIEN’S WONDERS
Henry walks in, barely noticing anything, the dark shadows
barely eliciting a response, the colorful trinkets and queer
looking items completely ignored. The other man that walked
past him stands at the counter. Henry watches him as he
mutters something to Dr. Lucien. Henry removes his hat.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
14.
DR. LUCIEN
(to the other man)
I think I have just the thing.
Dr. Lucien turns, deftly picks out a small orb, the same
shape and color as the one Elizabeth had. He hands it to the
man whose eyes widen as he peers inside, and a sinister and
horrible expression of greed creeps across his face.
MAN
Oh yes. Yes, exactly right!
The man pulls out a rather large bag of money. Dr. Lucien
looks over at Henry.
DR. LUCIEN
You seem as though you’re looking
for something.
Dr. Lucien spreads his arms.
DR. LUCIEN
I can give you your heart’s desire.
HENRY
I doubt that.
Dr. Lucien raises his eyebrows. Henry puts his hands in his
pockets. He pulls out the ring, and looks at it,
rememberance dancing across his face, then sadness. His face
slowly hardens. He holds the ring up.
HENRY
What could I get for this?
Dr. Lucien takes the ring from Henry and puts on some
spectacles. He inspects the ring closely. His eyes narrow in
recognition of the ring. He takes off his eyepiece. The
other man hands some money to Lucien, who turns.
DR. LUCIEN
You have what you came for.
He gives the other man a look as to tell him to leave. The
other man exits and Lucien turns back to Henry.
DR. LUCIEN
Where did you get this?
HENRY
It belonged to my... (beat) ...to
someone I once knew.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
15.
Dr. Lucien studies Henry’s face. Lucien’s expression ever so
subtlely changes. He drops the ring into Henry’s palm.
DR. LUCIEN
(coldly)
I’m sorry I’m not a pawn broker.
He turns around, and looks up and down, quickly becoming
frustrated, obviously struggling to find something
satisfying. He goes to the spot where he pulled the small
orb from earlier and looks at the empty space. He pauses
thinking. He whirls and gives Henry one last look. Henry
stands there with a blank face. Dr. Lucien grabs a ladder
and slides it to the far end of the shelf, climbs up and
pulls a box out from near the ceiling. He climbs down, box
in hand, and sets it on the back of the counter. He blows it
off, and brushes the excess dust off with his hand, and
opens the box. There’s a rather large crystal orb inside,
quite different from the rest, glowing a faint purple. He
holds it up and looks at it carefully.
DR. LUCIEN
Mmm hmm... This should do.
He turns to Henry, who snaps out of his trance. Lucien hands
him the orb.
HENRY
What is it?
DR. LUCIEN
Something for the pain.
Henry holds the ring out to him. Lucien shakes his head and
waves his hands in protest.
DR. LUCIEN
No, no. That’s not nesscesary.
Henry looks confused.
DR. LUCIEN
Consider it as an investment on my
part.
HENRY
But...
DR. LUCIEN
That’s quite a nice hat.
He points to Henry’s top hat. He then points to his own.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
16.
DR. LUCIEN
As you can see, I’m in need of a
replacement.
Henry frowns and slaps the ring on the counter. Lucien
doesn’t budge.
DR. LUCIEN
I don’t need a ring.
Henry looks at the orb in his hand, it’s glow hypnotic.
Henry looks desperately at his precious top hat. The
struggle is plain on his face. He sadly looks at the hat,
and then hands it to Lucien. He steels himself and quickly
walks out, orb in hand. Lucienchuckles.
DR. LUCIEN
Quite a nice hat indeed.
EXT. RIVERBANK - DAWN
Henry walks along, eying the orb, unsure what to do with it.
He rolls it over in his hands, and it glows softly and
lights his face as he gazes at it’s opaque swirling colors.
Bored,he shakes it next to his ear. He sits down. He holds
it up to the light, and sees a faint figure. Intregued he
puts it close to his face, peering into it. He sees a faint
image of Elizabeth and he throws it away in surprise.
Confused, he picks up a rock and tries to smash the orb, and
it doesn’t break. He picks it up with both hands and smashes
it on a large rock repeatedly. Angrily, he throws it into
the river and screams. He runs to the bank and throws the
rock into the river after it. He bursts into angry tears. He
sobs, and shaking, reaches into his pocket. He pulls out
Elizabeth’s ring and looks at it, hands shaking and tears
pouring down his face, he drops it into the river.
NO!!!!
HENRY
Henry frantically steps into the shallow water, and bends
down, feeling around desperately for the ring. He falls to
his knees, splashing around, searching hopelessly through
the muddy water. He slows and slumps, sobbing pitifully and
draws a shuddering breath.
HENRY
I gave up! I gave up on you!
A slim hand with a ringed finger touches his shoulder.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
17.
ELIZABETH
I suppose I’m not wanted then?
Henry turns and looks up into ELIZABETH’s beautiful face!
Her entire body and clothing are dripping wet, as if
emerging, moments before, birthed from heart of the river.
HENRY
(whispers)
Elizabeth?
Elizabeth drops to her knees into the shallow water and they
choke back an emotional laugh as they embrace each other.
Elizabeth leans to Henry, and he kisses her. Elizabeth leans
her head on his shoulder, turning her face in, towards him.
HENRY
I gave up hoping...
ELIZABETH
(inturrupts him)
You never gave up. That’s why I
never gave up on you.
HENRY
But I gave up your hat...
ELIZABETH
You still have my ring.
She kisses him gently. Henry suddenly notices Dr. Lucien
watching them. Henry stands quickly. Elizabeth recognizes
him as well. Lucien turns away, and Henry sees that he has
left his top hat on the riverbank. They climb out of the
water and Henry picks it up. There’s a note tucked into the
ribbon. Henry plucks it out and reads simply: "Didn’t fit."
They both look up, and Dr. Lucien has disappeared. They look
at each other, join hands and walk up towards the streets
together, as the sun bursts through the morning sky.
FADE TO BLACK