The Parcel
"A package. Ten thousand pounds worth of class A drugs. Wrong address… or something far more dangerous?”
Gemma and Max are strapped for cash, with a baby on the way. The good news? They’ve finally scraped together enough to buy a modest flat of their own - no more dealing with unpredictable landlords.
The bad news? Their new home, Woburn Court, isn’t exactly the peaceful haven they hoped for. Violence simmers in the hallways, and it doesn’t take long for them to realise they’ve moved into trouble.
On their very first morning, a package slips through the letterbox. Inside: £10,000 worth of Class A drugs. Instantly, a choice has to be made.
To Gemma, the answer is obvious… get the police involved.
To Max, it’s just a delivery gone wrong. Better to keep quiet and wait for someone to claim it… right?
But what if it isn’t a mistake? What if it’s a test?
The Parcel follows Gemma, Max, and the residents of Woburn Court as suspicion, temptation, and danger tighten their grip over the subsequent days and months.
Extract
(In this scene, we have just learnt about a male from the same flat block, who was recently bundled into the back of a van, beaten, and murdered in a drugs related dispute.
We hear the door knock, and we assume it's someone arriving to pick up the erroneously posted drugs... Instead it's a surveyor coming to follow up on a damp problem mentioned much earlier.)
A loud knock at the door.
Both freeze.
GEMMA
Max?
MAX heads to the door.
INT. FLAT ENTRANCE - DAY
We see a tall figure through the glass.
MAX composes himself. Deep breath. Opens the door.
IAN
Hiya. Ian from Vibrancy.
MAX is blank.
IAN
The survey follow up? Sorry I'm a bit late.
MAX
Ahh fuck, yeah... Come in.
IAN enters, slightly surprised by the F bomb.
IAN
Is this an ok time? I did message this morning to confirm.
MAX
I'd completely forgot. It's been chaos.
IAN
It always is isn't it? Moving in to a new place.
MAX
Yeah, no, it's been... hectic.
IAN
It was about the damp in the kitchen then, principally?
MAX
Yeah, yeah. Come through.
He leads IAN into the kitchen.
MAX
Gem, it's just the surveyor. Sorry, I totally forgot -
Fuck - GEMMA realises the parcel of class A drugs is still sat on the kitchen counter top.
She moves quickly into the kitchen, but MAX and IAN are already in there.
GEMMA slides herself in front of the parcel. Is it too late? Has the surveyor seen it?
IAN
Do you mind if I take some photos?
GEMMA
I mean, it's a mess, we haven't cleaned...
IAN
It's no problem. I'm only going to be focusing the damp.
IAN takes out an Ipad to capture a few photos.
IAN
I've done a few in this block - There's always something up with them…
He checks himself -
IAN
Bags of potential though.
By necessity of blocking the parcel from view, GEMMA is awkwardly in frame for nearly all of the surveyors photos.
IAN finds this a little strange, but continues regardless.
MAX and GEMMA exchange an uneasy look as the surveyor snaps away.
IAN
It goes without saying... This will need treating.
GEMMA
Yeah... I don't understand why it wasn't caught in the first survey though?
IAN
It's hidden damp.
GEMMA
It's not that hidden is it? You're taking photos of it... I'm asthmatic... And pregnant... I can't be knocking around in a damp kitchen.
IAN
It seems this is where they had their washing machine, so the last surveyor must've overlooked it.
GEMMA scoffs.
IAN
No I know. Shambolic really. Did you pay for the basic survey, the 'homebuyer report'?
GEMMA
Yeah. That should've been enough. No?
IAN sucks through his teeth.
IAN
It doesn't cover hidden damp I'm afraid.
INT. FRONT DOOR - DAY
The door shuts as IAN leaves.
Beat.
GEMMA
Right. He might've seen it. We need to bell the police now.
GEMMA dials 999, presses call. She hands the phone over as it starts ringing.
GEMMA
You speak to them.
MAX cancels the call.
MAX
We can't! Babe, it'll just lead to more problems down the line! We're going to be losing someone a lot of money. Someone who knows where we live.
GEMMA
I don't care! What if that fella calls the Police? They'll have on us on intent to supply.
MAX
We'll just be honest, and say it's not ours.
GEMMA
Brilliant! I'm sure we'll be the first people caught with a shit load of drugs to say it isn't ours!
MAX
But it isn't ours.
GEMMA marches into the kitchen. Scoops up the parcel.
MAX
What are you doing?
She heads to leave.
GEMMA
Taking it to the station.
MAX tries to grab the package back. GEMMA holds it away from him.
MAX
Gem, please.
GEMMA
I'm handing it in. More shit than it's worth.
GEMMA opens the door - marches out with the package.
Beat.
A panicked MAX follows.