tc1x03
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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TEASER
FADE IN:
INT. THE COMPANY - CONFERENCE ROOM - NIGHT
ANGLE ON HAND
Fingers drumming slowly on the table top.
PAN UP to reveal that the owner of this hand is none other
than VIOLET MORGAN. She looks extremely bored.
ANDREW FRIAR sits next to her, his chin on the table. He
stares intently at a couple of paper clips while behind
him, ALISTAIR BENSON paces slowly.
BENSON
Mr. Friar, I had hoped that since
becoming Miss Morgan's partner
here at the Company, you would
stand up and show a little pride
in your work. Unfortunately, I
was mistaken. But I can't say
that I was surprised.
Andrew says nothing.
BENSON (CONT'D)
What I am surprised about is the
fact that you have yet to
comprehend that the things you do
and the mistakes you make reflect
on all of us. Now...
(beat)
In relation to these "mistakes".
Can you explain something to me?
He places a piece of paper in front of Andrew who straightens
up and turns to look at Benson.
ANDREW
I'm not sure I'm comfortable with
you being in charge if you
can't... Sort of... You know,
read.
Vi turns towards the conversation. Her disinterest fades
away at Benson's growing annoyance.
BENSON
I can read. That is precisely the
problem. Now, an explanation is in
order.
Andrew sighs and pulls the paper closer. He glances over it
half-heartedly and Vi shifts to peer over his arm.
ANDREW
(to Benson)
It's my assignment report.
BENSON
And?
ANDREW
I have lovely penmanship, if I do
say so myself.
Benson snatches the paper away.
BENSON
This report is a waste of my time
and yours. Not to mention the
fact that you skipped almost half
the questions listed, didn't even
acknowledge using Company
resources to alter memories and
you used some kind of purple gel
pen!
VI
Can I just - -
ANDREW
Look, it's not my fault that I get
bored easily. Purple helps me to
focus.
Benson studies the paper.
BENSON
Focus on drawing stick figures
being eaten by giant anacondas?
VI
What I - -
ANDREW
Hang on, I hardly ever did
reports properly before but now
because I'm part of the 'Company
Big Brother Program' or whatever
I'm suddenly supposed to be all,
"Whoo! Reports! Hand me another,
Johnny!".
(beat)
And it's not a giant anaconda,
it's a giant Komodo dragon. It's
pretty obvious because snakes
don't have legs.
BENSON
Who on Earth is Johnny? What are
you talking about? Am I supposed to
understand anything you just said?
ANDREW
If not then you won't understand
this. Sir, you are a - -
Vi stands suddenly.
VI
I hate pomegranates!
A long beat. All attention is now on Vi who flinches a
little under Benson's scrutinizing gaze.
ANDREW
You mean as in the fruit?
VI
It's a thing. From when I was
little. I didn't know what
pomegranates were so they kind of
freaked me out and that's exactly
how I'm feeling right now. I
don't know what's going on and
so... I hate pomegranates.
Benson turns toward her.
BENSON
The situation is simply this.
After every assignment the Runner
is required to fill out a
detailed report of the preceding
events including an evaluation of
their own performance.
He holds up Andrew's sad excuse for an assignment report.
BENSON (CONT'D)
This report is then sent to the
Records Department where it is
cross-checked for any fault and
then filed away for future
reference. As your Mentor, Mr.
Friar was asked to complete your
first report for you but has
neglected to do so in any
satisfactory manner.
ANDREW
Whoa. You totally just channeled my
high school principal.
(beat)
Please don't ever do that again.
VI
Reports. Right. I kind of
expected, y'know, a parade or
maybe a big cake with
"Congratulations For Stopping a
Murderer" written on it but we
get paperwork.
(beat)
Not that I'm complaining or
anything.
Benson sighs.
BENSON
I can see I am not going to get
through to either of you. And,
it's obvious that you...
(looks to Andrew)
Are already starting to have a
bad influence on her.
ANDREW
Does this mean you'll make
someone else her partner?
BENSON
Absolutely not.
Andrew sighs dramatically. Vi glares at him.
ANDREW
(shrugs)
What?
Shaking her head, Vi turns to Benson.
VI
Can I go now? I should be getting
home because... Y'see, my parents
kind of think I'm re-organising
my bookshelf.
ANDREW
Which was a really great excuse
to give because now you have to
actually do it.
VI
Yeah, I picked up on that after I
said it.
(beat; cheerfully
sarcastic)
I'm smart.
BENSON
You are both dismissed.
Andrew stands and both he and Vi head towards the door.
BENSON (CONT'D)
Oh. One moment, Miss Morgan.
He pulls a piece of paper from his jacket pocket. Hands it
to her.
VI
Not another one?
BENSON
Another one. Good luck and I'll
expect a report when you're done.
(beat)
Black or blue pen, please.
She opens it.
ANGLE ON PAPER
It reads: "B-45/10:00"
ANGLE ON VI
She's is completely confused.
VI
I thought it was a name thing?
This is... Uh... Not.
Benson lifts his hands and mimes them being tied.
INT. THE COMPANY - RECEPTION - MOMENTS LATER
Andrew presses the elevator button. Vi continues to read
over the note.
VI
Isn't he going to explain what
this means?
Andrew laughs.
ANDREW
Yeah, then he's going to tell us
the meaning of the universe and
change his name to Mr. Gives
Everything-Away.
The elevator CHIMES and the doors slide open. Andrew and Vi
step inside. We STAY ON THEM as the doors start to close.
ANDREW (CONT'D)
You have a lot to learn about the
Company, kid.
Vi sighs and crumples the paper up in her hand as the doors
meet.
BLACK OUT:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
INT. MORGAN RESIDENCE - VI'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Vi stealthily climbs in through the open window and as one
leg touches the ground...
PENNY (O.S.)
Oh. My. God.
Vi whirls around and, in doing so, trips and lands with a
THUMP on the carpet. She scrambles to her feet.
PENNY MORGAN stands in the open doorway. She grins
devilishly.
PENNY (CONT'D)
Violet Louise Morgan. I am
shocked and appalled.
(beat)
How long has this being going on?
VI
What? Nothing's going on.
Penny moves forward and looks out of the window.
PENNY
Is he cute?
VI
(shocked)
What?
PENNY
The guy you've been sneaking out
with.
She turns back to Vi. Hands on her hips.
VI
There's no guy! I was just...
Admiring the wonders of nature.
The sky. It's very... big
tonight.
PENNY
It's not that dorky kid from
school is it? The one you're
always hanging out with? Shawn?
VI
(annoyed)
It's Shane and he's not dorky.
And I'm not sneaking out with him
either. No one's sneaking!
What are you doing in here
anyway? I remember that door
being closed.
PENNY
For sneaking purposes, I'm sure.
VI
You climb out the window all the
time. You don't see me giving you
the third degree.
PENNY
True. But...
VI
But what?
PENNY
I think Mum and Dad would be very
interested in this information.
VI
What!? Don't you dare.
PENNY
It's for your own good. I mean,
you never used to do anything
like this back in our old house.
In my opinion, this is just a cry
for help.
Penny smiles and makes her way to the bedroom door. Vi
darts in front of her and SLAMS the door closed. Penny's
smile drops.
PENNY (CONT'D)
Whoa! Wanna hold back on the
psycho there, Vi?
VI
(pleading)
You can't tell them.
PENNY
I'm the kind of person who
believes that I can do whatever I
put my mind to. To me, there's no
such word as "can't".
There's a KNOCK on the door. Vi steps back as it is opened.
CAROLINE MORGAN enters.
CAROLINE
(to Vi)
Oh! There you are. Did Penny tell
you?
VI
(suspicious)
Did Penny tell me what?
CAROLINE
Dinner's ready.
(beat; re: Vi's outfit)
Are you going somewhere?
A beat. Vi turns to Penny. Penny remains silent - smirking.
VI
No. I... I... Uh...
PENNY
She was wearing that before. God,
Mum - pay attention.
Caroline takes a moment to look over Vi's shoes and jacket
again. Nods and leaves. Vi turns to Penny who smiles slyly
and follows Caroline out of the room. Vi is left alone.
In stunned silence, Vi walks over to her bedroom window and
closes it sharply.
EXT. GARRETON ACADEMY - DAY
Establishing shot.
SOPHIE (PRE-LAP)
Cult initiation.
INT. GARRETON ACADEMY - MAIN HALLWAY
SOPHIE GEORGE, Bianca's friend from 1x01, stands by a row
of lockers with a mixed group of BOYS and GIRLS. They are
hanging on her every word.
BOY #1
Are you serious?
SOPHIE
I swear to God. She wanted to
join this cult and the only way
they'd let her in is if she had a
near death experience first. I
heard she was going to buy like
fifty bottles of vodka and give
herself alcohol poisoning but
that bullet seemed to do the
trick.
GIRL #1
But didn't she just fake it?
Bianca's been saying - -
SOPHIE
Bianca says a lot of things. Like
that she was attacked by the guy
that offed Olivia Gibson. Does
that tell you anything? Girl's a
drama queen.
BOY #2
Aren't you her best friend?
SOPHIE
Can a person actually define the
word "friend" nowadays? Anyway,
so - Lucy told Gavin that she
heard from Anna that Violet was
rambling in this weird language
when she ran into the store -
like she was possessed or
something.
VI (O.S.)
Excuse me.
Sophie turns to see Vi standing behind her. Sophie freezes.
SOPHIE
Uh... I was just...
She turns to look at her captive audience only to find that
they've gone their separate ways - glancing back as they
hurry off down the hallway.
Sophie turns back to Vi and smiles sweetly.
SOPHIE (CONT'D)
Violet! How are you?
VI
You're standing in front of my
locker.
SOPHIE
Oh.
She steps out of the way. Smiles again and moves off. Vi
opens her locker and digs around for her next set of books.
SHANE EVANS appears. He shakes a bag of jelly beans in
front of her.
Vi smiles and reaches out for them but Shane pulls the bag
away.
SHANE
What do you say?
VI
I say give me those jelly beans
or I'll put a curse on you with
my voodoo cult powers.
Shane softens and hands her the bag.
SHANE
So, you've heard that one?
VI
Just got a recap from Sophie
George. Another one to add to the
list...
She swings open her locker door and we see...
ANGLE ON LOCKER DOOR
A piece of paper taped to the inside. It is titled,
"Rumours About Me" and contains a list of various scenarios
some of which include; "Faked entire thing", "Just wanted
attention" and "Some bikers dared me".
She takes a pen and adds, "Cult initiation" to the bottom.
BACK TO SCENE
Vi pulls out her books and closes the locker. She and Shane
start eating the jelly beans as they make their way down
the hallway.
VI (CONT'D)
It's been about two weeks since
the whole thing happened. I get
that it's weird. I mean, I
wouldn't turn down a spot on
Ripley's Believe It Or Not but it
just gets to a point when you've
gotta...
A group of YOUNGER KIDS walk past - they stare and whisper.
VI (CONT'D)
(loudly; in their
direction)
Let it go!
They scurry away.
SHANE
Agreed. It'll blow over. Once
they realise there's nothing more
to the story, they'll find
something else to be obsessed
with.
Vi grimaces.
VI
Nothing more to the story. Right.
She grabs another handful of jelly beans as they move off
screen...
EXT. GARRETON ACADEMY - LUNCH COURT - LATER
Vi carries her lunch and moves through the crowd towards
her usual lunch table. Suddenly, her path is blocked by the
energetic and talkative MAX HARVEY (16).
MAX
Violet Morgan, have I got a
proposition for you.
She raises her eyebrows.
VI
No, I'm not going to teach you
how to fake your own death.
You'll have to look it up on the
internet like everyone else.
She starts to move around him but he blocks her once again.
MAX
(laughs)
That's cute, real cute. The paper
could use a bit of snark like
that.
VI
The paper?
Max pulls a folded newsletter from his back pocket. Holds
it out for her to see.
MAX
The Garreton Grapevine. I'm Max
Harvey, the Editor. Usually it's
a senior but she moved back to
New Zealand so I took over. I'm
looking for a big story as my
first issue. Something that'll
make the kids interested in the
news again and... I think I'm
looking right at her.
Vi lets out a short laugh.
VI
You can't be serious.
MAX
Oh, I am. I've heard the rumours
about your so-called "accident"
and let's face facts - no one in
this school knows exactly what
happened but you. I'm giving you
a golden opportunity here. An
exclusive, front page interview
to tell your side of the story.
The whole truth.
Vi pauses. Thinks for a moment. She's tempted.
VI
I... I can't. I'm sorry.
She begins walking again. Max stays where he is for a
moment. He can't believe she just said no. He scampers
after her.
MAX
Well, I know it's a bit much to
take in. Give it a couple of days
- think it over. I'm sure you'll
come to see that it's not such a
bad idea. You can - -
Vi stops again. She's serious now.
VI
Look Max, you're just going to
have to find another story. I'm
not interested.
Max opens his mouth to speak.
VI (CONT'D)
Even if I waited a couple of days
I still wouldn't be interested.
MAX
You're not thinking about - -
ERIN (O.S.)
She said no. Why don't you give
her a break?
ERIN FOWLER sits with his group of friends next to where Vi
and Max stand. Max looks from Erin to Vi.
MAX
Fine. Alright. But you're missing
out on a great thing here.
He walks away. Vi turns to Erin.
VI
Thanks. But I was handling it.
Erin shrugs.
ERIN
Never said you weren't.
A beat.
VI
Well, OK then. Bye.
She walks off, a little confused at Erin's assistance - and
also a little flattered.
She reaches the table and sits down. Shane is looking
forlornly at his sandwich.
SHANE
I wish sandwiches came in cool
colours.
(beat; cheerfully)
Then lunchtime would be like a
rainbow of fun!
Beat.
VI
No more jelly beans for you.
From O.S we hear YELLING, CHEERING and WHISTLING. Vi and
Shane look around for the disturbance.
SHANE
Wanna go check it out?
VI
If it's gonna get the attention
off of me? Hell yeah!
They stand and hurry over to the large clump of noisy kids.
Pushing their way to the front, the noise dies down as they
see the commotion...
Penny stands in the centre of the circle facing off against
another girl, ASHLEY (18). A tall, very attractive boy DAVE
(18) stands off to the side looking very overwhelmed.
ASHLEY
(to Penny)
You lair! I've got reliable
sources - -
PENNY
Your sources suck! I didn't steal
your boyfriend, Ashley! Dave!
Tell her!
Dave looks to Ashley.
DAVE
She... She didn't, Ash. I swear!
ASHLEY
Oh, of course you'd say that. Of
course you'd defend her.
PENNY
I didn't do anything! I never
made out with Dave. Dave isn't
even my type!
ASHLEY
What's wrong with him then? Is he
not good enough for you?
Penny looks around and, for the first time, notices the
audience she's got. Ashley stalks over to the first line of
people and snatches a Frozen Coke from a younger kid.
Turning to Penny, she dumps it all over her uniform!
Penny screams in shock and Ashley stands back - triumphant.
Some of the watching crowd gasps while some laugh.
Penny looks around again, tears well in her eyes and she
takes off - pushing her way out of the circle.
Vi looks after her.
SHANE
That was harsh.
VI
(to Shane)
Excuse me.
She follows her sister.
INT. GARRETON ACADEMY - GIRLS BATHROOM
Vi enters to find Penny standing at the sink. She's crying
and dabbing at her uniform with a damp paper towel. She
looks up when Vi enters.
PENNY
Go away.
VI
Are you OK?
PENNY
God, Violet! Does it look like
I'm OK? I have frozen coke all
down my shirt and the whole
school just saw me accused of
stealing someone's boyfriend. And
they saw me cry.
(beat)
I'm almost as pathetic as you.
At this last comment, Vi rolls her eyes and turns to go but
thinks better of it and turns back.
VI
You know, I was trying to do the
right thing. I just saw my sister
be humiliated in front a crowd of
people and actually thought,
"Hey, she might need someone to
talk to". So, here I am. Doing
something nice. Which you might
want to try sometime.
PENNY
We both know you aren't here to
be nice.
VI
What is that supposed to mean?
PENNY
You're here to make sure that I'm
upset enough to drag the
attention away from your little
"back from the dead" escapade.
VI
(wavering)
That's not true.
PENNY
Sure it isn't. Now, go away.
Vi angrily turns and walks out. Penny studies herself in
the mirror for a moment. Wipes away another tear.
In the mirror's reflection, a stall door opens smoothly to
reveal Max, leaning casually against the wall.
Penny whirls around.
PENNY (CONT'D)
What the hell are you doing? This
is the girls bathroom, you freak!
Max walks out of the stall. He smiles.
MAX
Penny Morgan, have I got a
proposition for you...
BLACK OUT:
END OF ACT ONE
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