WRECKWOOD

When a hardworking philanthropist refurbishes the abandoned town of Wreckwood as a shelter for victims of domestic abuse, she discovers that the scorned, men-hating coven of witches inhabiting the surrounding forest pose an even graver danger to those she is desperate to protect.

About

WRECKWOOD is a female-led, present day drama set in the Peak District that weaves horror into a story about abuse and our reaction to it as humans. Each character represents a different reaction, demonstrating that this heavy subject is nuanced.

Teaser

INT. LOUNGE, DIANA'S HOUSE, WRECKWOOD - DAY

Sunlight beams through a window taped up with a dust sheet.

Beneath it sits a pallet filled with tiles and bricks.

On an old, beaten sofa surrounded by building materials lies:

-- DIANA NORTEN (40s) spanning the full length of the sofa and still in heels and dress. One might normally call her glamorous and charming - but not right now.

Diana stirs awake, squinting through last night's smudgy eyeliner. She lifts her hand in an attempt to block out the sunshine, GROANING as the memory of yesterday seeps in...

INT. ENGLISH PUB, BAKEWELL - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

CHATTER fills the little space not taken up by PUB GOERS.

Diana, fresh-faced and well put together, navigates her way through the crowd carrying three glasses of wine. Her tall stature would make it easy to just shove through but

it's her radiant smile that everyone moves for.

INT. TABLE, ENGLISH PUB, BAKEWELL - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

Diana places the glasses down at a sticky wood table set into a nook. She smiles, clears her throat -

DIANA

To Louis, for a wonderful job on all the

designs, the builders, the... everything. I'm so

thankful to have you at New Beginnings.

-- LOUIS REDMOND (40s) takes his wine. Strong as a bear with a full shaggy beard, he moves slowly and speaks softly - a conscious choice to disarm those threatened by his size.

LOUIS

Thank you Diana. The charity meant the world

to Grace. I'm just trying to right by her memory.

Diana holds her own glass up in a small toast but he waves it away and sips his wine.

She hands over the other glass -

DIANA

And Ivy.

-- IVY SHADWELL (30s), a wild haired eccentric with a permanently unimpressed face. Her eclectic outfit of mismatched styles screams that she doesn't know herself.

DIANA (CONT'D)

You've been by my side since I started this crazy project. It's

been a long road together but we made it work... just. Well done.

IVY

Yup. Cheers.

Ivy chugs most of her wine down. Diana pulls back a chair and sits.

DIANA

Right then. Make all your phone calls and say

goodbye to civilisation for a bit because tomorrow

is day one at the Wreckwood site. Thomas Measham

arrives in the morning so we need his house

ready by end of week.

Ivy finishes her drink with a gulp.

IVY

You said no work talk tonight. Said we could

have 'our last night off'.

LOUIS

It'll be done boss. Builders arrive at seven.

We break ground at ten.

DIANA

Good. No point calling ourselves a shelter

without... shelter.

EXT. ENGLISH PUB GARDEN, BAKEWELL - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

Diana leans against the red bricks of the pub. She drinks her wine, smoking a cigarette under a steaming vent.

The pub's back door BURSTS open! Out steps:

-- A WAITER (20s). He uses his dirty apron to wipe sweat from his brow then turns around to see Diana -

THE WAITER

Sorry ma'am. Won't be long but I'm sweating

like a pig in the kitchen.

DIANA

Don't you worry about it.

Diana drunkenly eyes him up - those toned arms, tight jeans.

INT. LOUNGE, DIANA'S HOUSE, WRECKWOOD - DAY

Lit with an uncomfortable brightness, Diana sits upright on the sofa, rubbing her neck.

Her memories fade in and out - each one becoming less clearer as the night went on...

EXT. MAIN GATES, WRECKWOOD - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

Diana unlocks tall iron gates under the silvery moonlight.

The Waiter shivers in the night air, frowning at a sign:

ABANDONED TOWN. DO NOT ENTER!

Diana pushes the gates open then notices his apprehension.

She wraps her scarf around his neck.

DIANA

You don't have to?

INT. LOUNGE, DIANA'S HOUSE, WRECKWOOD - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

The Waiter kisses Diana up against a wall inside the cluttered lounge.

In their passion, they knock down a corkboard from the wall, sending building blueprints and a map of a town into the air.

Paperwork falls to the floor as The Waiter tugs at his jeans.

INT. LOUNGE, DIANA'S HOUSE, WRECKWOOD - DAY

In the light of day, Diana picks up the corkboard, her neck red from rubbing it.

There's only one sticky note left:

Week 52: Vacation. Maybe.

With a SIGH, she rips down the dust sheet at the window.