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"The Haunted Manor" - An Off-Script Cold Read


In every episode of ‘Off Script’, Ben and Lloyd are faced with a tough, but real, acting challenge… To take a script, with absolutely ZERO preparation, and perform it to the best of their abilities. No peeking, no hints, no ideas - just straight into the scene, and being left to (hopefully) swim rather than sink thanks to their considerable talents!

In the fifth episode of the series, the boys faced a scene that took them straight into the depths of absurdist comedy, with an extremely daft script by Ryan Croughan. Presented here for your reading pleasure, is the script of “The Haunted Manor”… exactly as the Off Scripters were handed it…

EXT: Auderly Manor. Night.


A dilapidated manor house stands imposingly on a bleak winters night. RUSSELL (20s) stands outside, freezing. Wrapped in a thick coat, he holds up a phone on a selfie stick. He addresses the phone as it records him on a live stream.


RUSSELL

Hello there fellow Horror Hunters, welcome to episode 67 of ‘Trust Me - It’s Haunted’ and today we’re at Auderly Manor. Your great Nan might’ve liked it here once for afternoon tea… but the grunts and groans of the ghouls trapped here now certainly don’t. Then again, your great nanna might be one of them ghouls. I kid, I kid.


RUSSELL begins walking across the lawn to the front entrance.


RUSSELL

Built in 1836, this house has been host to many spooky spectacles over the years. In 1899, three maids disappeared whilst on their daily rounds. In 1982, a child smashed this very window with a football… Hours later, only his bright blue boots could be found, sat in a puddle. And just last year, vlogger Elliot Harper, decided to break into the house… and he never… came… BACK. So, I’m gonna do it properly. Here we go!


RUSSELL pulls out a whopping great crowbar from his rucksack, and with a couple of heaves, begins to break through the front door.


RUSSELL

Here we go, uncharted territory Horror Hunters! Elliot Harper, eat your heart out!


RUSSELL feels a pat on his back! He whips round, horrified.


RUSSELL

Arrghh!!!


ELLIOT

Alright mate. Bit late to the party ain’t yer?


ELLIOT (20s) is dressed in a gym shirt, with big hair and even bigger arms.


RUSSELL

What?


ELLIOT

I’ve already done this one mate. Bit boring. Nothing to see here.


RUSSELL

Nothing to see here? It’s one of the most haunted houses in the area.


ELLIOT

Not really though mate.


RUSSELL

Right. What about the disappearing maids?


ELLIOT

They disappeared to go and have a quickie in the back. When their manager found out, they were fired. That’s where they went mate. Not ghosts - just proper reprimanding for inappropriate workplace relationships. Pretty forward thinking for 1899 you gotta admit.


RUSSELL

1982. The kid playing football.


ELLIOT

He stepped in cow poo.


RUSSELL

What?


ELLIOT 

Yeah, stepped in cow poo, left his shoes in a puddle to soak, went round the back to play bare foot. Came back round, shoes were clean, tittered off back home. 


RUSSELL

But his parents never found him?


ELLIOT

Mate, if you stepped in the cow shit in these fields, your parents would disown you too. It’s like… supercharged. Proper. Grade A level cow shit.



RUSSELL

And you. What about you?


ELLIOT

What about me?


RUSSELL

What happened to you?


ELLIOT

Nothing happened to me mate, I’m great. Look at me, I can crush cans of tuna with these abs.


RUSSELL

Abs?


ELLIOT

Yeah, me guns, look at ‘em.


ELLIOT flexes his muscles. A picturesque drop of sweat drips down them. It’s pretty fit.


RUSSELL

That’s pretty fit.


ELLIOT

You’re pretty fit.


RUSSELL

Elliot?


ELLIOT

Wanna see my gym?


RUSSELL

Your gym…


ELLIOT 

What do you think I’ve been doing here all year?


RUSSELL

Everyone thought you’d vanished…


ELLIOT

Nah mate, come on in.


ELLIOT pulls out a set of keys and opens the door to the abandoned mansion. Except, it’s not abandoned at all… Inside is the most incredible gym you have ever seen, filled with people working out to their hearts content.


ELLIOT

Doesn’t make business sense does it? Big empty hulk of a building in the middle of nowhere. Perfect for a gym. I’m in property development now bro. Vlogging is so last decade.


RUSSELL

But what about all the grunts and groans of the ghosts that we hear coming from inside? It’s reported like every night!


ELLIOT

That’s just people giving some strong tugs on the diverging LAT pulldown mate. You’d be groaning if you were doing them on full heat too y’know.


RUSSELL

Right. Mystery solved I guess Horror Hunters.


ELLIOT

Wanna come in?


RUSSELL

Sure. I’ve always wanted to work on my abs.


ELLIOT

Ooooh, now you’re talking my language.


RUSSELL drops his selfie stick to the floor, and the live-stream cuts out.


How well do you think Ben and Lloyd did? Is there anything you would change about their interpretation? Or do you think it was pitch perfect? Please do let us know!

If you haven’t already, you can listen to episode five of Off Script here;



The sixth and final episode of the series lands on Tuesday 16th June, as the boys save the most important part of an actors skillset... how to get work! We hope to see you there!

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