MARY SHELLEY: LIFE & DEATH & LIFE

Raised in a broken home and inspired by the ideologies of freedom and feminism from her late mother, a melancholic teenager tries to earn the respect of her stoic father whilst on an arduous journey to publish her first novel.

About

Set in the present day, this show is the modern reimagining of the life of Mary Shelley. With ongoing themes of resurrection, acceptance and mental health struggles, this story will explore Mary Shelley’s turbulent life and how it creatively inspired the story of Dr Frankenstein and his monster.

Season 1 will focus on Mary’s young life and her relationship with those around her: her distant dad, her late and inspirational mum, her new status-obsessed stepmum and also her first love - Percy Shelley. The timeline covered will follow her youth up until the publication of Frankenstein and range from 1997 to 2018.

This is a tale set in the present day with technology and industry the real Mary Shelley would never see. Steven Moffat’s JEKYLL (2007) and SHERLOCK (2010) have both influenced the choice to modernise this narrative. Although Moffat’s stories were both fiction and this narrative is a recognised part of history, contemporising this tale fell into place with ease due to Mary’s life being distinctly progressive for her time.

With a feminist mother, an atheist father described as the ‘founder of philosophical anarchism’ and a rockstar husband who encouraged free love, Mary was influenced by those around her to live as most other women couldn’t. It’s this mirror to contemporary society that makes the source material so inspirational.

This show is primarily aimed at the UK female market aged 25+ with an interest in female driven stories with sinister undertones. Fans of THE HANDMAID’S TALE (2017) and THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT (2020) will likely enjoy this narrative.

Teaser

EXT. SWISS MANSION - NIGHT

Under a bright crescent moon, a grey-stoned villa stands unwavering as the wild and savage rain batters the house.

SUPER: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

JUNE 2016

LAUGHTER and CHEERING erupts from somewhere within.

INT. MARY'S BEDROOM, SWISS MANSION - NIGHT

Facing out the window with a lost gaze stands:

-- MARY (18), a young woman with thin lips, pale skin and dark eyes that almost refuse to blink. Brown curls shape her gaunt face that’s lost to the racing thoughts within.

LAUGHTER! It's louder now - but still in the distance.

Whatever's happening in the house, Mary's not interested in it. She tugs her black nightgown tighter around herself.

A open laptop sits on a desk nearby, a cursor blinking on an empty Word document.

Next to it, a smouldering joint rests in an ashtray... Mary slowly looks over and and lifts it up -She inhales deep then exhales onto the soaked pane sending smoke billowing back around her face. She closes her eyes...

A SCREAM! Mary whips her head to the door!

But the room is empty - save for some minimal furniture.

The SCREECH then turns into JOYFUL CACKLING!

Mary shakes her head. She hoists back the chair to the desk and slumps down - forcing herself to face the empty page. As she types, she speaks the words out loud -

MARY

The little girl was born from

death. As a zealous documentarian,

her father had no care, nor reason

to hide the horrors of her birth

from her impressionable mind.

She pulls on the joint, sending the smoke in all directions.

MARY (CONT'D)

Solitude was her only consolation -

deep, dark, deathlike solitude.

SCREAMS! First of laughter from inside the house... then of a woman in excruciating pain -

EXT. TOWNHOUSE - NIGHT

From within an impressively tall four story end-terrace, an unseen WOMAN SCREAMS for her life!

SUPER: LONDON, ENGLAND

JULY 1995

Racing along the street, a red-faced DR LOUIS (50s) rushes up the house's steps! He shoves open the large front door.

INT. BEDROOM, TOWNHOUSE - NIGHT

Sheer curtains let the moonlight bleed into the luxury but lived in bedroom.

On the double bed, in the throws of agonising labour, lies:

-- MARGARET WOLLSTONECRAFT (late 30s), a feminist (currently quite unhappy she's a woman). She tried to control her breathing - sweating and glaring at the man responsible.

-- WILLIAM GODWIN (40s), a portly, balding man with a pig- like nose sitting on the bed, holding her hand. His soft, squishy face stares at his wife with adoration and concern.

MARGARET WOLLSTONECRAFT

Epidural. Gas and air. Hit me over

the head. Just make it stop!

WILLIAM GODWIN

There's no time darling. But Dr

Louis is on his way. Try to relax.

MARGARET WOLLSTONECRAFT

If you would like to keep your

bones inside your body, don't tell

me to relax William.

DR LOUIS (50s) - the red-faced man - bursts into the room, sending the door smacking into the wall behind.

Mary slams her head back into the pillow - the contractions ripping through her torso. At the sight of Dr Louis -

MARGARET WOLLSTONECRAFT (CONT'D)

Oh thank goodness!

Dr Louis rolls up his sleeves and steps inside the room with a slight wobble in his step... He wipes sweat from his head.

DR LOUIS

(slurring)

Evening Margaret. Don't worry. I've

done this thousands of times.

William stands up to block his path -

WILLIAM GODWIN

You okay mate? You seem... not

good.

Dr Louis scrunches up his face in drunken offense.

DR LOUIS

C'mon William. What's a glass of

wine or two to an expert? You

wanted me here for this. I'm here.

Margaret writhes in pain... William takes a moment to weigh up his somewhat limited options... Dr Louis tilts his head.

DR LOUIS (CONT'D)

She's on her way by the looks of

things. You want my help or not?

WILLIAM GODWIN

Just help her.

Dr Louis pats him on the shoulder on his way to Margaret -

DR LOUIS

She's in good hands.

INT. MARY'S BEDROOM, SWISS MANSION - NIGHT

Mary frantically types with tears as fierce as the rain.

MARY

Those 'good' hands caused an ache

that never subsided, a lingering

inspiration that couldn't be

caught, for the little girl never

got to know the valiant mother who

fought an deadly infection for that

night - and for only the next ten.

Mary wipes her eyes then slams her laptop shut.

She pushes her face into her hands as the LAUGHTER in the house only seems to get louder.