Nicola Fletcher – 2023 Feature Finalist

Plate O'Shrimp

Following the violent death of his mother, 16-year-old Sam’s life is turned on its head as he tries to fulfil the promise he made to Summer, his unrequited and coma- stricken love.

The seed for ‘Plate O’ Shrimp’ came to me in a launderette while I was waiting for the drier to finish scorching my bed linen. It was post pandemic and I was unemployed. I thought it would be great to run a laundrette, but went off the idea when an undertaker came in to launder his ‘smalls’ and told me his life story which was very death-heavy; he’d been busy of late what with Covid. I left with my burnt linen and the seed stuck and grew.

Sam, a quiet and unassuming protagonist, discovers secrets and has his life turned upside down thanks to unexpected violence and drama. He ricochets through life like a ballbearing in a pinball machine with little or no control, but never loses his need for something good to come from the tsunami of crap.

The focus throughout the script is very much on Sam and his point of view. We see what he sees, hears, feels and ultimately discovers.

In all my writing there is an underlying humour, as well as love and hope; even in the darkest of stories. My protagonists are usually introverts. I love their quietness. Being a hopeless optimist myself, I like to believe there’s good fortune to be had in some shape or form. I’m based in London. Projects under construction include a Sci-Fi TV drama, a Family TV drama, a psycho thriller feature and a children’s ghostly feature.