Heroes and Villains "This building was designed in 185 7 by a Frenchman who was certainly the

world's worst architect. This was his only commission. When the first owners
In this unit, you'll learn how authors create spy thrillers by using a formula moved in, they had him shot."
for story and characters, which you'll use to write your own spy thriller. "There are still quite a few people here with guns." Alex glanced out of
the window as another pair of guards walked past.
"Point Blanc is unique," Dr Grief explained. "As you will soon discover, all
The Evil Doctor Who Would Rule the World the boys who have been sent here come from families of great wealth and
Alex Rider is a schoolboy spy working for M/6. He has been sent importance. We have had the sons of emperors and industrialists. Boys like
undercover into a castle called Point Blanc. The castle is a boarding yourself. It follows that we could very easily become a target for terrorists.
school for troublesome boys from the families of the world's rich and The guards are therefore here for your protection."
famous. Alex is there to spy on the evil headteacher, Dr Grief, and "That's very kind of you." Alex felt he was being too polite. It was time to
find out what the mysterious Gemini Project is. show this man what sort of person he was meant to be. "But to be honest
I don't really want to be here myself. So if you'll just tell me how '
The door opened and they went into a huge room that made no I get down into town, maybe I can get the next train home."
sense. Like the rest of the building, its shape was irregular, none . "There .is no way down into town." Dr Grief lifted a hand to stop Alex
of the walls running parallel. The ceiling was about seven metres interrupting. Alex looked at his long, skeletal fingers and at the eyes
high, with windows running the whole way and giving an glinting red behind the spectacles. The man moved as if every
impressive view of the slopes. The room was modern, with soft bone in his body had been broken and then put back
lighting coming from units concealed in the walls. The furniture together again; he seemed both old and young at the same
was ugly, but not as ugly as the further animal heads on the time and somehow not completely human. "The skiing
walls and the zebra skin on the wooden floor. There were three season is over ... it's too dangerous now. There is only the
chairs next to a small fireplace. One of them was gold and helicopter and that will take you from here only when I say
antique. A man was sitting in it. His head turned as Alex so." The hand lowered itself again.
came in.
"Good afternoon, Alex," he said. "Please come from Point Blanc by Anthony Horowitz
in and sit down."
Alex sauntered into the room and took one of the
chairs. Mrs Stellenbosch sat in the other.
"My name is Grief," the man continued.
"Dr Grief. I am very pleased to meet you and
to have you here."
Alex stared at the man who was the
director of Point Blanc, at the white paper
skin and the eyes burning behind the red
spectacles. It was like meeting a skeleton and
for a moment he was lost for words. Then he
recovered. "Nice place," he said.
"Do you think so?" There was no emotion
whatsoever in Grief's voice. So far he had
moved only his neck.
 Heroes and Villains "This building was designed in 1857 by a Frenchman who was certainly the
world's worst architect. This was his only commission. When the first owners
In this unit, you ' ll learn how authors create spy thrillers by using a formula moved in, they had him shot. 11
for story and characters, which you'll use to write your own spy thriller. "There are still quite a few people here with guns." Alex glanced out of
the window as another pair of guards walked past.
"Point Blanc is unique," Dr Grief explained. "As you will soon discover, all
~he Evil Doctor Who Would Rule the World ~he boys who have been sent here come from families of great wealth and
.lex Rider is a schoolboy spy working for MI6. He has been sent importance. We have had the sons of emperors and industrialists. Boys like
ndercover into a castle called Point Blanc. The castle is a boarding yourself. It follows that we could very easily become a target for terrorists.
chool for troublesome boys from the families of the world's rich and The guards are therefore here for your protection."
1mous. Alex is there to spy on the evil headteacher, Dr Grief, and "That's very kind of you." Alex felt he was being too polite. It was time to
ind out what the mysterious Gemini Project is. show this man what sort of person he was meant to be. "But to be honest,
I don't really want to be here myself. So if you'll just tell me how
·he door opened and they went into a huge room that made no I get down into town, maybe I can get the next train home."
ense. Like the rest of the building, its shape was irregular, none . "There .is no way down into town. 11 Dr Grief lifted a hand to stop Alex
1f the walls running parallel. The ceiling was about seven metres in~er~uptlng. Al~x looked at his long, skeletal fingers and at the eyes
iigh, with windows running the whole way and giving an ghntmg red behind the spectacles. The man moved as if every
mpressive view of the slopes. The room was modern, with soft bone in his body had been broken and then put back
ighting coming from units concealed in the walls. The furniture together again; he seemed both old and young at the same
vas ugly, but not as ugly as the further animal heads on the time and somehow not completely human. "The skiing
valls and the zebra skin on the wooden floor. There were three season is over ... it's too dangerous now. There is only the
:hairs next to a small fireplace. One of them was gold and helicopter and that will take you from here only when I say
1ntique. A man was sitting in it. His head turned as Alex so." The hand lowered itself again.
:ame in.
"Good afternoon, Alex," he said. "Please come from Point Blanc by Anthony Horowitz
n and sit down."
Alex sauntered into the room and took one of the
:hairs. Mrs Stellenbosch sat in the other.
"My name is Grief," the man continued.
'Dr Grief. I am very pleased to meet you and
to have you here."
Alex stared at the man who was the
director of Point Blanc, at the white paper
skin and the eyes burning behind the red
spectacles. It was like meeting a skeleton and
for a moment he was lost for words. Then he
recovered. "Nice place," he said.
"Do you think so?" There was no emotion
whatsoever in Grief's voice. So far he had
moved only his neck.
 1 Responding to the text 3 Grammar work
Answer questions from the ( •) , • or /I!>
section . Answer the questions from the ( •) , . or . >section .

0 What did Alex see on the wall s of Dr Grief's office? Copy out the playscript lines below. In the stage directions underline
f) What was Dr Grief sitting in? ,,-----.-.---~• any adverbs or adverbial phrases in red and any verbs in blue.
a) a computer chair b) a wheelchair 0 Roberta: (loudly) Look! There is a huge mound of rock and earth on
c) an antique chair d) a deckchair 0 Which word means slow, the railway line.
easy movement?
E) What is unu sua l about Dr Grief's appearance? 6 Peter: (gazing down the track) The 11.29 train hasn't
6 What is Alex's reaction to gone by yet. We must let them know at the station.
0 Which two words below best describe meeting Dr Grief? Why
Dr Grief: did he feel thi s way? E) Roberta: We haven't got time to run there . We have to
a) confident b) generous think of something else. (in deep thought) Remember!
c) cold d) nervous E) How do you think
Dr Grief's voice makes 0 Peter: (frantically searching) Couldn't we make a flag or • If it tells you what to
0 Give examples of words or phrases that something to warn the driver? do it's a verb.
Alex feel? Why?
make Dr Grief seem creepy. • If it tells you now,
0 Give examples of words 0 Phyllis: (hopping from foot to foot nervously) But we
haven 't got anything red. I' m scared. when or where to do it,
or phrases that illustrate
Dr Grief's character.
it's an adverb or an
0 Describe Doctor Grief's emotions. Do they change? adverbial phrase.
6 When Alex says Nice place, what do you think 0 Is Dr Grief a good name
Copy out these lines and add your own stage directions
he is thinking? for a villain? Give reasons
using verbs, adverbs and adverbial phrases.
for your answer.
E) What does Dr Grief say that tells us about 0 Peter: Shut up! Stop being a baby.
his character? 0 What do you think
Dr Grief is planning 6 Roberta: Stop fighting you two. I've got an idea! We could use some
0 Why do you think Dr Grief says There is no way to do to Alex? material from my flannel petticoat. It's red.
down into town? What does it tell you about his
plans for Alex? E) Phyllis: Here, Bobbie. You can use these sticks. They should be long
enough for flags .
0 Do you think Dr Grief is a believable character?
0 Peter: Well done, Phyl! It won 't take me a minute to tie the red material
to the sticks.

0 Roberta: There's just one thing. We'll have to stand next to the track if
2 Role play the driver is to have any chance of seeing us in time.

Think of three questions you have for Dr Grief and three questions for 0 Phyllis: We have to do it. We have to save the passengers on the train.
Alex Rider. Come on! I'm going down
to the track.
Choose a partner and decide who will take on the role of Dr Grief and
the role of Alex Rider. Practise answering each other's questions. Read the dialogue in the ( •) and . activities.
Hotseat as Dr Grief and Alex Rider for the rest of the class. Write an ending to the scene, with stage directions.
 2 Responding to the text
Answer the questions from the ( •) , • or ~ section . 3 Exciting sentences
Using short, snappy sentences can create pace and excitement in your
writing . Authors often use short sentences for action scenes and longer
sentences for describing a setting or character.

0 Is Mr Perks poor or rich? How do you know? 0 Was it a good idea for Make these sentences into shorter sentences to create exciting writing.
Roberta to write down what You can move words around and use more powerful words if you
f) Make a list of the presents Mr Perks re ceives the neighbours said when need to.
on hi s birthday.
they gave the presents?
8 Why are James and the butcher happy to give Why?
Mr Perks presents? 0 The arctic sharks with razor teeth circled him and he wondered if his
f) Look at what the old
0 The stage directions say the children are tearful . turnpike woman said. What stun gun would work in the freezing water. (Tip : Use a question mark.)
does this mean and what
Why is this an important stage direction?
does it tell us about Mr
6 He saw three buttons flashing on the bomb as his palms sweated and
0 What are Mr Perks' feelings when he begins then he pushed the red one . (Tip: Make three short sentences.)
Perks when he was a boy?
to listen to Roberta? What are his feelings at E) The parachute lines began to snap and he had to think quickly as he
the end? E) Identify two stage directions
headed towards the lake switching on his jet boots. (Tip: Make four
that help the actors to
0 Roberta thinks she has acted like a friend . How very short sentences.) /IJJ~--....
perform the script and say
much do you think she has acted as a friend? how these stage directions
help them. f) The bullet hole in the space capsule

..,,-.------·
0 Who are the two main characters in this scene?
0 How does Mr Perks think
the neighbours feel about
him by the end of the
scene?
0 The car sped through the
empty streets and
approached a roadblock so
Agent X sped up and
headed straight towards it.
meant that oxygen was being lost and
Agent X realised he had seconds to find
a space suit and escape but he didn't
know where the space suits were kept.
What does Mrs Perks do in the scene? Why has
0 Is Mr Perks wrong to be
0 Beneath the sheet of ice Agent T swam,
the playwright included her? 0 The snowboard gathered protected by her thermal wetsuit, but
angry? Explain your answer. speed as it headed down she knew if she didn't find a hole soon
f) What does Roberta do to convince Mr Perks that
0 One of the themes of this the mountain and from out her battery would run out and she
they had done the right thing by giving him presents?
scene is friendship . How of the trees more enemy would freeze to death and then Dr Fear
E) One of the themes of the scene is respect. Does does Mr Perks feel about his agents on snow bikes raced would destroy the world as we know it.
Mr Perks feel he is respected at the beginning? friendship with the children towards her and she
Does he change his mind? Why do you think this? at first and at the end? wondered if the snowboard
could out run them .
0 Perks says Now hold on a sec at the end. Write a
stage direction for this line and explain why you have chosen it. 0 He was terrified but he
managed to control his fear
0 Later, Mr Perks says, If a man can't respect hisself then no one else' II respect and jump from the
him neither. What does this tell you about the reasons he was angry? helicopter with the winch
0 How do you think Roberta feels : a) when Mr Perks is angry with her at the beginning rope between his hands and
b) after she reads out the messages c) when Mr Perks says Now hold on a sec? then he fell at a great speed
towards the ice cold sea
hoping the winch would
slow him down enough .
 Roberta: If you won't even listen! Perks: Your mam's a born lady, I'll give
4 Write your own spy thriller Perks: To what? her that. All right, we'll keep
the clothes.
0 Planning Mrs Perks: You are a stubborn old fool
Roberta: Then there's the perambulator and
First write your plan for a spy thriller. Decide who your sometimes, Albert Perks. Why don't
you listen for once in your life? the gooseberries from Mrs Ransome.
characters will be, and what should happen at each stage She said, "I dare say the Perks'
of the spy plot. Perks: Huh! children' d like these gooseberries.
11

Roberta: All I wanted to say was that - was And she told me to tell you the
Discuss your plan with a writing partner and listen to their ideas.
that - well - everyone - who gave pram was her little Emma's who
f) Drafting you a present passed on a message died after six months and she'd like
Start drafting your story. Swap with your partner. Comment on each to you. to see it used.
other's writing with two stars and a wish - a star for two good things, Perks: Huh! Mrs Perks: Oh, I can't send the pram back,
and a wish for one thing you would like to change. Albert.
Mrs Perks: Go on, love, he's listening .
Perks: Am I asking you to?
8 Writing Roberta: These are clothes from Mother for
your youngest. Mother said, "I'll Roberta: Then the shovel. Mr James made it
Now write your story for you himself, and he said, "You
find some of Phyllis' things that
in full, using your spy tell Mr Perks it's a pleasure to make
she's grown out of if you're quite
p lan and feedback sure Mr Perks wouldn't be offended a little thing for a man what is
11
from your and think it's meant for charity. much respected.
writing partner. I'd like to do some little thing for Perks: I suppose James is a good enough
him because he's been so kind to fellah .
0 Checking and editing you. I can't do much because we're
When you have Roberta: Then the honey and the bootlaces.
poor ourselves.11

Mr James said he respected a man

finished, read through
Mrs Perks: You see, Albert! who paid his way - and the butcher
again, then make said the same. And the old turnpike
any final changes woman said many was the time
and check for any you'd lent her a hand with her
mistakes. garden when you were a lad - and
things like that came home to roost
- I don't know what she meant.
And everybody who gave you
anything said they liked you, and it
was a very good idea of ours and
Remember! nobody said anything about charity
or anything horrid like that and I
• Use short, snappy thought you'd love to know how
What I have learned sentences to make action fond people are of you and I never
• I understand the formula of the spy thriller genre. scenes more exciting. was so unhappy in all my life. So
good-bye. I hope you'll forgive us
• I can plan and write vivid characters. • Provide striking details to some day. (Turning to the others)
• I can use a variety of sentences to create give your characters a Come on, let's go home.
suspense and tension. strong identity. Perks: Now hold on a sec.
• I can plan, draft and write my own spy thriller. • Use setting descriptions Mrs Perks: I should think so too.
to create an atmosphere. (The children, still rather tearful, turn.)
• Follow the spy plot from The Railway Children
formula . adapted by Dave Simpson