Inanimate Alice, Episode 2: Italy

Inanimate Alice

Episode 2 : Italy

Script – text only

Written and produced by

Kate Pullinger ( )

and

Chris Joseph ( ),

from an original idea by Ian Harper.

A BradField Company production ( ).

1. ALICE

My name is Alice.

I’m 10 years old.

2. LOST

I’ve lost both my parents. Not ‘lost’, as in dead, at least I hope not. But they should have come back to the chalet by now.

3. CHALET

You could say I’m being silly,

“She’s the girl who’s always losing her parents”

and you’d probably be right, but, still – they aren’t here.

I’m safe, but they’re not, so in fact that means I’m not safe at all.

4. PUZZLE

It’s pitch black dark up here on the mountain, the ski lifts have shut down for the day, and snow is falling like a heavy curtain between me and the rest of the world.

5. PHONECALL

I’ve built a new puzzle on my player. I want to show it to my Dad. I’d say, Look at this Dad -

“Look at this!”

you can’t have any supper until you’ve done my puzzle.

The snow is falling faster. Still no sign of my parents. I look at the phone, but it won’t ring, they both refuse to carry phones now, it’s really annoying.

I could use my player to make a call.

6. AYISHA

PHONE RINGING

Hello Ayisha?

Alice? Are you all right?

Ayisha is my tutor at home in Saudi. She is very cool.

I’m okay. How are you?

I’m fine? Why are you calling? Aren’t you enjoying your holiday?

7. BRAD

It’s fine. It’s good! I met some kids when I was snowboarding today – I showed them Brad. They were impressed. They call me ‘The Animator’ – we all have nicknames.

Ayisha laughs.

I miss her.

8. SAUDI

In Saudi it is very hot and my Mum and I rarely leave the compound.

At first we tried to explore on our own, but that didn’t work out so well.

9. MING

While Dad’s away working, it’s easier to stay at home where Mum can paint and I can work on my puzzles.

10. NIQAB

Ayisha arrives at our house wearing her niqab, but when she takes it off she’s like a wonderful bird, all bright colours and flashing jewellry.

Where are your parents?

That’s just it, Ayisha, my parents aren’t here.

Where’s your sitter?

11. OH NO!

Oh no! That’s when I remember.

I was supposed to go to the ski school at the end of the day.

I was supposed to have a snack there and get a ride back to the chalet on the snowcat later – by then my parents would be waiting for me.

My first day ever that I’m allowed to go snowboarding by myself, without my parents, without an instructor – and look what happens!

What should I do? I can’t tell Ayisha, or she’ll get worried.

They’ll be back soon, I tell her. I’m not worried.

Okay Alice. Have a great time.

12. LATE

The call was supposed to make me feel better, but it did not.

I take a look at Brad. He smiles, as though he’s trying to reassure me.

13. CLOTHES

It’s getting late now.

What should I do? Go back to the ski school? That’s where I’m supposed to be.

It’s very cold and dark and snowy outside – I’d better get dressed.

Long underwear.

Thermal top.

Thick socks.

Ski pants.

Fleece.

Boots.

Hat.

Gloves.

Goggles.

Last of all, I put on my cool new jacket, made of super-advanced material perfect for snowboarding. Except I’m not going snowboarding.

14. SNOW

I open the door to the chalet. The snow is falling so fast and thick it’s more like swimming than walking, except it’s feather-dry, like I’m on a strange planet where the atmosphere is very cold, and when I breathe in the little hairs inside my nose freeze and when I breathe out they thaw again.

15. MOUNTAIN

I start walking and I’m like an astronaut in deep space and it sounds fun but in fact it is very very frightening. We never walk down the mountain, we always ski.

When I look behind me the chalet has disappeared completely and everything is silent.

I move forward, but I have no clue where I am going.

Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea.

16. FALLING

I take another step but suddenly the snow is really deep, it’s like I’ve stepped into a giant snow-hole, and I’m falling, falling – it’s like quicksand, pulling me under.

I’m on my back, and I can’t see anything, and I start thrashing, except I can’t because I’m trapped, and the snow is still falling, and no one is going to see that I’m here, and I’ll freeze to death and they won’t find me until spring. And my heart is pounding and I can’t breathe properly – snow in my mouth – snow all over my face…

17. CALM

Then I hear him. I hear Brad’s voice. Inside my head. He’s speaking quietly. He’s saying, Be calm. Be still. He’s saying, Concentrate. Move slowly. Push yourself up into a sitting position. Don’t worry about not being able to see. Push yourself up slowly.

And so I do. It’s not easy, it takes all my strength. I sit up, and the snow starts to fall away, and I realise it’s my woolly hat, it’s covering my face, so I push it up, and now I can see.

And I hear them, I hear my parents talking, my mother’s laughter sparkles through the snow to me, I can hear my father’s voice like a blast of warmth from a blow heater.

And I can’t help myself, I start to cry, and I shriek, Where Have You Been? like I’m the parent and they are the child.

18. PIZZA

My father says, Why are you sitting in the snow?! and grabs my hand and pulls me up and puts his arm around me, and my mother says, Did the snowcat drop you off early? Look! we’ve brought you pizza for your supper, it was hot a minute ago but it’s probably frozen now, and How was your day, did you meet up with those kids again? and Isn’t it beautiful out here in the dark with the snow falling and…

We go inside and we shake the snow from our many layers and we eat cold pizza and talk and we are happy.

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CREDITS

Inanimate Alice -

Written and produced by Kate Pullinger ( ) and Chris Joseph ( ), from an original idea by Ian Harper.

Brad illustrations by Binnorie ( ).

A BradField Company production ( ).