The Gardener (Radio Drama)

The Gardener's origin story was first thought out in a radio drama written and performed in October 2020. The original script was finalized in October 2020 while the revised script was finalized in ? 2023.

## Original Script

**Scene 1:**

(News soundtrack sound)

News Broadcaster: (serious) Breaking news, the body of twenty-five year old, (muffled) ea anson, was found today in a woman's backyard. Mr (muffled) anson was allegedly hit in the head with a shovel by (muffled) a low which killed him in the process. Police have arrested (muffled) a low and he was charged with first degree murder. (muffled) O aker found the body in a woman's backyard after Mr (muffled) low went there for a gardening job and Mr (muffled) anson met with him later. Mr (muffled) low will go on trial this Monday. Now to the weather.

(News soundtrack)

(Scene ends with weather man)

**Scene 2:**

(Peter and Bob bully Jack)

(Children playing sounds in the background)

Jack: (child voice/scared) Stop, I didn't do anything today! I pwomis!

(Peter pushes Jack to the floor)

(Punch sound and thud sound)

Jack: (childcare/scared) Ow! Stop pushing me Peter!

Peter: (child voice/rude) You stupid head!

Jack: (child voice/scared) You meanes are bullies!

Bob: (child voice/rude) Look at him, he's going to cry!

Peter: (child voice/rude) You're not even a man! You're just a freak of nature!

(Punching sound)

Jack: (child voice/fading away) Oww!

(Children playing sounds in the background start fading away)

(Scene ends with jack getting hit)

**Scene 3:**

Peter: (rude) It's been ten years and Jack is still the pathetic loser he was. No GCSEs, no qualifications... He's lucky I let him work in my Garden Center.

(Silence)

(At Garden Center Co.)

(Call center noises in the background/phones ringing/people speaking in the background)

Jack: (annoyed) What do you mean I have to work overtime? I already work a lot and the pay isn't the best but now I have to work more and no extra payment!!?

Peter: (serious) As we have both already told you, you and a few others have to work extra time due to the people on strike. It's only two more hours.

Jack: (annoyed) But it's not-

Peter: (serious/slightly angry) I don't care if it's not fair. You're going to do your job and that's final.

Jack: (frustrated) Uhhhhh...

(Scene ends with Jack going back to working)

**Scene 4:**

(Call center noises in the background/phones ringing/people speaking in the background)

(Phone rings)

(Phone picking up sound)

Jack: Hello welcome to Garden Center, how can I help you today?

Mrs Brown: (calm) Oh hi, I need help planting a tree in my backyard.

Jack: Sure thing, when do you want the tree to be planted?

Mrs Brown: (calm) Tomorrow morning would be great.

Jack: Alright we'll head over there tomorrow. What's your address?

Mrs Brown: House number four, down Abby Street, close to the mall.

Jack: Alright see you tomorrow ma'am.

Mrs Brown: (slightly worried) Ummm... I forgot to tell you about that. I need to go to my mother's house tomorrow so I'm not going to be home. I'll leave the keys under the mat.

Jack: Ok ma'am.

Mrs Brown: (relieved) Alright then, thanks for the help.

Jack: No problem.

(Phone placing sound)

(Scene ends with Jack leaving work)

**Scene 5:**

(Cars beeping in the background/engine sound/low-volume radio)

Jack: (angry/frustrated) I hate my bosses........ Sometimes I wish I was the boss. I could get to tell everyone what to do and boss them around all day long. Then I could show Peter and Bob what I'm really worth...... Make them work extra hours just like they did to me and pay them the minimum wage too…. But that will never happen.... I'm just an average guy with no power over anyone.....

(Silence)

Jack: Well I'm home.

(Car beeping sounds start fading away)

(Engine stops/radio stops)

(Car door opens)

(Scene ends with Jack arriving at his house)

**Scene 6:**

(Keys rattle)

(Door unlocks and then opens sound)

Jack: (relieved) Ahhh, home sweet home.

(Door closes sound)

(Jack throws the keys on the table)

(Keys rattle on table)

Jack: Tomorrow's going to be a bad day so I should get a good night's sleep.....

(Silence)

Jack: (questioning) How did I even get here? Working as gardener? Getting paid the minimum required wage? Working extra hours? Not having any free time?

(Silence)

Jack: (slightly angry) They did this to me. Peter and Bob did this to me. All of their bullying and harassment made me depressed and I couldn't concentrate on my exams. They made me who I am today, a worthless, abused, low-waged gardener..... (angry) They did this to me.

(Silence)

Jack: (confused) But what can I do? Oh well, I should head to bed. Tomorrow I'll have to work extra hours.

(Light switch sound)

(Scene ends with Jack going to sleep)

**Scene 7:**

(At Garden Co.)

(Call center noises in the background/phones ringing/people speaking in the background)

Peter: (calm) Jack I talked to Mrs Brown about that tree you need to plant. I need you to go to her house and dig a hole for the tree. I'll go over there later with the tree for you to plant.

Jack: (slightly annoyed) Ok, how big should the hole be?

Peter: Around 5 feet by 5 feet.

Jack: Ok, that might take a while.

Peter: (slightly angry) I don't care it needs to be done.

Jack: (apologetic) Ok, sorry.

Peter: Oh, and one more thing. She said you need to dig the hole near her tulips.

Jack: Alright, I'm going there now.

(Call center noises stop)

(Scene ends with Jack going to Mrs Brown's house)

**Scene 8:**

(Silence)

(At Mrs Brown's house)

(Digging sound)

(Jack is digging the hole)

(Car stops near house)

(Car stopping sound)

(Car door opens and closes sound)

(Car lock sound)

(Fence gate opens sound)

(Footsteps on grass sound)

Peter: (angry/surprised) What in the world is this?

Jack: (confused/annoyed) What?!? it’s the hole she asked for!

Peter: (angry/rude) No it's not! This is a mess! The tree is now here and there is no hole to plant it!

Jack: (confused) But the hole is here!

Peter: (angry/rude) How stupid are you? Uh?! It's too small! I have every intention to fire you right now and never speak to you again!

Jack: (begging/scared) Please don't! This job is everything I have!

Peter: (angry/rude) You are a worthless, useless little man!

Jack: (begging/scared) Please, I’m sorry! Just give me another chance!

Peter: (angry/rude) I'll think about it you freak of nature!

**Scene 9:**

(Continuation from last scene)

(Flashback to Scene 2)

Jack: (child voice/scared) You meanes are bullies!

Bob: (child voice/rude) Look at him, he's going to cry!

Peter: (child voice/rude) You're not even a man! You're just a freak of nature!

(Punching sound)

Jack: (child voice/fading away) Oww!

(Sound starts echoing after Peter says "freak of nature")

(Back to Scene 9)

Jack: (under his breath/angry) What did you just say?

Peter: (angry/rude) You heard what I said! Now get back to work you useless man!

(Jack pushes Peter)

(Pushing sound)

Peter: (angry/loud) Hey!

(Peter punches Jack in the stomach)

(Punching sound)

Jack: (hurt) Ohhh!

(Peter punches Jack again)

(Punching sound)

Jack: (scared/hurt) Stop! Please! I'm sorry, I didn't mean it! It was an accident!

Peter: (angry) Give me one good reason why I shouldn't knock you out right here, right now!

Jack: (confident) If you stop punching me I'll be able to talk.

Peter: (sarcastic) Uh, sure.

(Jack grabs the shovel)

(Shovel grabbing sound)

Jack: (confident) I'll give you a good reason.

(Jack hits Peter on the head with the shovel)

(Shovel hitting sound)

Peter: Uh...

(Body thuds on the ground)

(Thudding sound)

Jack: (relieved) I guess that's a good reason, it went straight to your skull.

(Jack continues digging the hole)

(Digging sound)

(Cutting skin sound)

(Jack cuts one of Peter's fingers off)

Jack: (disgusted) Uhh. Filthy finger.

(Short silence)

Jack: Just throw it away.

(Thud on dirt)

(Jack throws the finger on the grass nearby)

(Digging sound)

Jack: Time to put the body in there.

(Grunting sound)

(Jack lifts the body and puts it in the hole)

(Thudding on dirt sound)

Jack: And now the tree.

(Sound of planting tree on dirt)

(Jack puts the tree in the hole)

(Digging sound)

(Jack fills up the rest of the hole)

Jack: (relieved) All done.

(Silence)

Jack: (slightly scared) Oh no. I need to get out of here.

(Fast footsteps on grass sound)

(Car door opening and closing sound)

(Engine starts)

(Car driving away sound)

(Scene ends with Jack leaving Mrs Brown's house)

**Scene 10:**

(Mrs Brown returns home)

(Door opening and closing sound)

(Garden door opening)

Mrs Brown: (relieved) There you go Max. Sorry about leaving you inside the whole day.

(Dog barking)

(Dog footsteps on grass)

Mrs Brown: (confused) Max, what are you doing?

(Short silence)

Mrs Brown: (annoyed) No max stop it. Max!

(Footsteps on grass)

Mrs Brown: (while walking) Max what are doi- (loud/scared) Oh my God! Is that a finger?!? I need to call the garden center right now!

(Dialing sound)

(Phone ringing)

Mrs Brown: (stressed) Hello?

Bob: (calm) Hello, welcome to Garden Center, how may I help you today?

Mrs Brown: (stressed) I found a finger in my backyard.

Bob: (confused) Excuse me ma'am?

Mrs Brown: (stressed/ slightly angry) You heard me! One of your workers came to my house earlier today and now there is a finger with blood just laying on my grass!

Bob: (confused) Hmmmm, ok. I will come over and check it out. What's your address?

Mrs Brown: (annoyed) Once again, it's house number 4, down Abby Street and close to the mall.

Bob: Alright I'll head over there now.

Mrs Brown: Ok but I have a dentist appointment so I will have to leave the keys under the mat.

Bob: Alright ma'am. It's fine.

Mrs Brown: (relieved) Ok, thanks.

(Phone placing sound)

(Scene ends with Bob going to Mrs Brown's house)

**Scene 11:**

(At Mrs Brown's house)

(Bob arrives at Mrs Brown's house)

(Car stops near house)

(Car stopping sound)

(Car door opens and closes sound)

(Footsteps)

Bob: (confused) Where were those keys again? (surprised) Oh yes, under the mat!

(Bob lifts mat and picks up keys)

(Keys rattle)

(Door unlocks sound)

(Fence gate opens sound)

(Footsteps on grass sound)

Bob: (confused) Now where is that, (more confused) finger?

(Birds chirping in background)

Bob: (confused) Is that it?

(Footsteps on grass sound)

Bob: (confused) Hey, that's Peter's engagement ring, but what's it doing on that finger?

(Silence)

Bob: Wait a minute.

(Dialing sound)

(Phone ringing)

(Ringtone plays (muffled))

Bob: (confused) What the hell? Why is Peter's phone sound coming from that tree?

(Footsteps on grass)

Bob: (confused) What?

(Silence)

(Bob looks for the phone around him)

Bob: Let me dig around the tree to see if it's there. He might have accidentally dropped his phone in the hole and then covered it with dirt. Who knows.

(Digging sound)

(Bob digs a hole around the tree)

Bob: (confused) What in the- (scared/loud) Oh my God! Peter is that you?!?!?

(Bob finds the body in the hole)

Bob: (confused/scared) Peter?

Bob: (scared) Oh my god.

(Thudding sound)

(Bob drops the shovel on the ground)

(Fast footsteps on grass)

(Car door opening and closing sound)

(Engine starts)

(Car driving away quickly sound)

(Scene ends with Bob leaving Mrs Brown's house)

**Scene 12:**

(Back at the office)

(Loud opening door sound)

Bob: (panting/serious) You did this to him. You killed Peter. (angry) What is wrong with you?

Jack: (confused) I did what?

Bob: (annoyed/serious) Don't be stupid. I know you killed Peter. You had a job there and Peter met up with you and that's when you killed him.

Jack: (confused) Wait, what are you talking about?

Bob: (serious) I'm calling the police right now.

Jack: (serious/emotionless) No you're not.

(Chair dragging sound and pushing)

(Continued grunting and punching sounds in the background)

(Bob pushes Jack and calls the police)

(Dialing sound)

Jack: (serious) What did you do.

Bob: (fast/stressed) Yes? Hello? I'm in Garden Center Co.. Send the police quickly, there is a murderer on the loose.

999 Operator: (muffled/phone call quality) Ok sir, we've dispatched officers to your location now.

(Jack punches the phone out of Bob's hand)

(Punching sound and phone falling sound)

Bob: (serious) They're coming for you.

Jack: (loud/angry) Ahhhh!

(Punching and thudding and grunting sounds for a couple of seconds)

(Sirens wailing in the distance, getting closer)

Bob: (calm/serious) They're here.

Jack: (serious/psychopathic) I'm going to kill you.

Bob: (serious) You wish.

(Sirens wailing very close (loud))

(Door breaking down sound (loud))

(Guns cocking)

Police Officer #1: (loud/angry) Everybody hands up!

(Jack grabs Bob by the neck)

(Choking sound)

Police Officer #1: (loud/angry) Sir, let go off the man!

Jack: (serious/psychopathic/loud) Never!

Police Officer #1: (loud/angry) Sir if you don't let go off the man we will shoot you!

(Choking continues)

(Sirens wailing continue)

Jack: (serious/loud) Do it! I have nothing left to live for!

(Another police officer grabs Jack and pushes him to the ground)

(Police Officer #2 grunts)

(Pushing sound and thudding sound)

(Choking stops)

(Heavy breathing/gasping for air sound)

Police Officer #2: (serious) You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney before speaking to the police and have an attorney present during questioning now or in the future.

(Cuffing sounds/metal clinking)

(Jack gets arrested)

Jack: (loud/psychopathic) I'm going to kill you all! (louder) I'm going to kill you all!

Police Officer #2: (loud/serious) Come on, move it!

(Multiple footsteps sound)

(Walkie-talkie sounds muffled in the background)

(Sirens still wailing)

(Scene ends with Jack being arrested)

**Scene 13:**

(News soundtrack)

News Broadcaster: (serious) Breaking news, the body of twenty-five year old, Peter Anderson, was found today in a woman's backyard. Mr Anderson was allegedly hit in the head with a shovel by Jack Willow which killed him in the process. Police have arrested Jack Willow and he was charged with first degree murder. Bob Baker found the body in a woman's backyard after Mr Willow went there for a gardening job and Mr Anderson met with him later. Mr Willow will go on trial this Monday. Now to the weather.

(News soundtrack)

(Scene ends with weather man)