tc1x12
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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TEASER
FADE IN:
INT. EVANS' RESIDENCE - SHANE'S ROOM - MORNING
It's morning. Sunlight streams in through a gap in the
curtains, dust particles floating through the air.
PAN DOWN to Shane's bed, and a figure lying within. There's a
stir of movement as they shuffle round - and it's VI.
She's still fully dressed and is wide awake - doesn't look
like she slept much last night.
She stares at the incoming daylight for a moment before her
eyes trail down to the floor.
And there lies SHANE, head resting on a pillow, gaze locked
on the ceiling. He's also fully dressed and similarly wide
awake.
Vi bites her lip, turning back round - not ready to speak to
him just yet. Shane... stares some more.
Vi suddenly turns back, mouth open - but pauses, shrinking
back and returning to the sanctuary of the duvet.
His head moves, looking to the bed, and his mouth opens,
ready to break the uncomfortable silence - but he stops as
well. The thought dies on his lips.
There's another long beat as the two hold their respective
positions, before Vi finally turns and leans over the edge of
the bed, looking directly down at him.
VI
Shane.
No answer. He doesn't even look at her.
VI (cont'd)
(firmer)
Shane.
He blinks, taking a deep breath - but still no eye contact.
VI (cont'd)
(pleading)
Shane...
SHANE
Juice.
VI
(blinks)
What?
SHANE
I want some juice.
He stands, quickly stretching and heading for the door. He
still hasn't looked at her.
SHANE (cont'd)
Do you want juice? Course you do.
I'll go get some... juice.
He's halfway to the door when she calls out:
VI
Shane!
He stops, slowly turning to face her at last. She holds his
gaze, her features softening.
VI (cont'd)
Just tell me you believe me.
He pauses - then tears his eyes away, quickly exiting the
room. You can almost hear Vi's heart breaking as she flops
back down.
CUT TO:
INT. EVANS' RESIDENCE - KITCHEN - NEXT
Shane is in Robot Mode, mechanically pouring two glasses of
orange juice as slowly as humanly possible.
LORI enters from the front room, paper in hand, and pauses
when she sees him.
LORI
Shane?
SHANE
That's my name. Don't wear it out,
or I'll make you buy me a new one.
Lori blinks, entering the kitchen.
LORI
Alright, that's unusual, even for
you.
SHANE
Batman.
LORI
I'm sorry?
SHANE
Specifically, Batman Returns.
(off Lori's look)
It's a line from a film, mum.
LORI
Ah, right. I should have known
you'd make a reference to something
I wouldn't know about.
She realises what he's doing at last.
LORI (cont'd)
Two glasses? I take it Violet's
still here, then?
SHANE
Either that, or I'm making sure I
get my vitamins.
LORI
Has she called her parents yet?
SHANE
Don't know. Maybe.
LORI
Well, don't you think you should
check?
Shane suddenly SLAMS the OJ carton onto the kitchen counter,
making Lori jump. He takes a deep breath, clearly fighting to
stay calm.
LORI (cont'd)
Shane? Is everything alright?
(beat)
You two... didn't... did you?
Shane looks up at her, now back in control.
SHANE
Friends, mum. That's all. She took
the bed, I had the floor. We
couldn't let her go in the state
she was in.
LORI
(backpedaling)
No, no, that's fine. I understand.
I was just - oh, you know.
Shane nods, picking up the two glasses and heading for the
stairs. He's halfway there when Lori calls out:
LORI (cont'd)
It's just...
Shane sighs, slowly turning to face her.
LORI (cont'd)
Tom - your father and I, well... we
were only sixteen when we - -
SHANE
(cuts in)
And that's all I ever want to know
about the subject.
Lori wisely lets him go, sighing as she watches Shane turn
into the hall.
CUT TO:
INT. EVANS' RESIDENCE - SHANE'S ROOM - NEXT
Vi is sitting up, brushing her hair with a small, spiky comb
as Shane re-enters.
She freezes, and he holds her stare for a beat, glasses in
hand. She sheepishly extracts the comb from her hair.
VI
Sorry, I, uh... I was just looking
for something to - -
SHANE
(extends arm)
Juice.
Vi blinks, then gingerly reaches out and takes one glass.
Shane joins her on the bed.
There's a beat as he takes a swig, Vi still casting worried
glances his way.
SHANE (cont'd)
What I don't get is...
She waits for him to finish.
VI
Yeah?
SHANE
You... died. And then... you came
back.
VI
That's right.
SHANE
Only now, you work for this...
'Company,' running round, doing...
things.
VI
Fixing connections.
SHANE
Connections, right. That's it.
You're a Runner. Or a Fixer.
(frowns)
Or is it both?
VI
Mutually inclusive.
SHANE
Right. And you've been doing this
ever since you...
VI
Died.
SHANE
(nods)
... and all the running round, and
disappearing, and that scruffy
Andrew guy you keep hanging around
with, and all the general 'Morgan's
a weird one' thing you do so
well...
VI
All part of the job.
Shane nods again. He swigs his juice as Vi nervously takes a
sip, switching her phone back on with her free hand and
setting it down beside her.
SHANE
You can appreciate why I'm having a
hard time believing any of this.
VI
Try being the one who died.
SHANE
Vi...
VI
Sorry.
(beat)
Would it help if - -
BEEP BEEP BEEP. Vi, immediately on edge, turns for her phone
on reflex.
She checks it - and the display reads '11 new messages.' Vi
closes her eyes.
VI (cont'd)
(to herself)
Please, please, please...
Vi opens her eyes. Shane watches her face as it falls.
SHANE
Is that... them?
She looks up at him, fear in her eyes.
VI
Worse.
(beat)
It's my mother.
Off this...
BLACK OUT:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
EXT. MORGAN RESIDENCE - FRONT PORCH - MORNING
Vi heads up the step, dog tired but actually managing to look
as though a great weight has lifted off her shoulders.
That is, until she hears:
CAROLINE (O.S.)
(screaming)
I don't want to hear it! I want to
know where she is!!
Vi grimaces. Uh oh. She fishes her keys out of her pocket but
pauses before sliding them into the lock.
For a moment, she looks back to the street, half considering
not going in - but then, head bowed, she turns the key and
opens the door.
CUT TO:
INT. MORGAN RESIDENCE - HALLWAY - NEXT
Vi opens the door a fraction and peeks inside. The coast is
clear. She can hear movement and raised voices from other
rooms.
She slips inside and shuts the door as carefully as possible.
Heading for the stairs, she tip-toes two teeny little steps
before:
CAROLINE (O.S.)
(thunderous)
Violet!!
Busted. Vi spins as CAROLINE appears from the kitchen, her
face red, her hair a mess, in full Angry Mum swing.
CAROLINE (cont'd)
Where the hell have you been?!?
VI
I - -
CAROLINE
Do you have any idea what your
father and I have gone through
because of you?
VI
But - -
CAROLINE
We've had half the street up and
looking for you! You could have
been, have been dead, lying in a
ditch somewhere!
VI
Can I - -
CAROLINE
Where on Earth have you been all
night long? Why didn't you call?
Why did you switch your phone off?
By now, the ruckus has attracted more attention - PETER, with
PENNY and CAM either side.
PETER
Caroline? What's - - Vi!
He starts to rush forward, but Caroline cuts him off - she's
not done yelling yet.
VI
Hi, d - -
CAROLINE
Don't think you're going to talk
your way out of this one, young
lady! Now answer me! Where have you
been?
A beat. Everyone looks at Vi, waiting for the answer. Vi
GULPS - this could be a life-changing moment.
VI
(meek)
At... Shane's?
CAROLINE
(swoons)
Oh, my God...
Caroline throws her hands up as Penny and Cam manage to get
closer.
VI
We had this huge, huge fight so I
went running over there, only it
was pouring with rain and I showed
up all hysterical and soaked
through, so his mum invited me in
and said I should stay over, and
Shane and I were talking all night
so I left my phone off, and...
(beat)
I'm sorry.
Caroline shakes her head, not able to even look at Vi right
now. Penny glances at her before edging closer.
PENNY
Are you alright? Nothing...
happened, did it?
VI
What? No, of course not! I'm fine!
PENNY
Oh.
Penny's expression goes from concern to smug in half a
second.
PENNY (cont'd)
Boy, are you gonna get it...
CAM
I'm glad you're home safe, Vi. I
was worried.
Vi looks oddly at Cam, the only calm face in the chaos around
her, as Peter tries to soothe the frantic Caroline.
PETER
It's okay, sweetheart, look. Ssh,
it's alright. Vi's here now, look.
Everything's - -
She suddenly SHOVES him out of the way and rounds on Vi
again.
CAROLINE
You are grounded for ever, young
lady! Get to your room, this
instant!
Vi looks almost relieved, turning and trudging up the stairs.
Penny's Cheshire Cat smirk follows her, but Vi's too tired to
even notice.
Caroline and Peter are still having their heated debate -
Peter's playing the mediator without much success.
CUT TO:
INT. MORGAN RESIDENCE - VI'S ROOM - NEXT
Vi steps inside, spies her bed and allows herself a smile as
she falls face first onto the covers.
She bounces a little, the muffled sound of Caroline's ranting
starting to fade out as she approaches blissful sleep at
last...
BEEP. It's her mobile again. Vi scrunches up her face - not
now.
BEEP. This one isn't going to go away. Eyes still closed, she
fumbles for her phone, holding it up before her as she
squints open one tired, red eye:
CLOSE ON: MOBILE SCREEN
'Meeting.'
CUT TO:
INT. THE COMPANY - RECEPTION - NEXT
The elevator doors slide open to reveal Vi, mouth wide open
as she yawns.
Smacking her lips, she steps out into the foyer, not noticing
the air of alarm all around her for a beat.
She blinks, frowning as she looks around - employees are
rushing from room to room, corridor to corridor. People she's
never even seen before.
Vi looks around, trying to find the source of the commotion,
approaching GLENDA behind the desk.
VI
Uh, Glenda? What's going on?
Glenda's fielding four calls at once, but manages to wave for
Vi to wait a moment.
GLENDA
(into phone)
Yes... yes, we will. Right away.
(into another phone)
Hello? Yes, just putting you
through.
(into another phone)
Just connecting you now.
She puts three different handsets down with a huff, pushing
her glasses up her nose.
GLENDA (cont'd)
Anybody'd think the Titanic just
pulled in...
Glenda stares at Vi for a beat, who motions to all the
craziness around her - explanation, please?
GLENDA (cont'd)
Ah, yes. Just a moment.
Glenda starts rifling through every folder, file, binder and
scrap of paper on her desk, finally coming up with a single,
folded sheet of paper. She hands it to Vi.
VI
What's this?
GLENDA
Your assignment!
Vi look around again. Still the craziness.
VI
Uh...
Three phones start ringing at once again, and Glenda picks
one up as she motions towards the board room.
GLENDA
Andrew's in there dear, said to go
in when you're ready.
(into phone)
Hello?
Realising that's all she'll get, Vi turns round - and is
almost BOWLED OVER as somebody hustles past her!
COMPANY EMPLOYEE
(heading away)
Sorry!
VI
Uh... no problem.
Bemused, she heads for the Board Room.
CUT TO:
INT. THE COMPANY - BOARD ROOM - NEXT
Vi pushes open the doors and steps inside, glad to seal
herself off from the commotion going on outside.
ANDREW is there, scanning over several different reports at
once. He looks up, sees Vi and beckons her over.
VI
Andrew? What the heck's going on?
Nobody'll tell me anything. Or, at
least, I doubt they would even if
they'd stop going all anime for a
second.
ANDREW
Going all what?
VI
You know...
She waves her hands around and pulls a crazy face.
ANDREW
(beat)
Right. Too old for that one. Come
on, sit.
She pulls up a chair next to him.
VI
(off paperwork)
Okay, now I know something's up,
because you're actually touching
filing. With your hands.
ANDREW
Surveillance reports.
Vi pales, but he doesn't notice.
ANDREW (cont'd)
We've all been given a stack to get
through, so it's not just me
suddenly bitten with the bug.
Apparently, there was a major
league security breach overnight,
and everybody's running around like
mad trying to find out why, and oh
God I just realised it was you,
wasn't it?
VI
(blinks)
Huh?
He turns to her, shoving the paperwork away.
ANDREW
Please say it wasn't you.
VI
Okay. It wasn't me.
ANDREW
(exhales)
Oh, thank God.
VI
(beat)
But it was.
ANDREW
(cursing)
Gah! Don't... nyah!
VI
I'm sorry!
She slumps forward, head on the desk.
VI (cont'd)
I'm so, so sorry...
(looks up)
Does Benson know?
ANDREW
Nobody knows. Not yet, anyway. And
if a genius like me could figure it
out, I reckon you've got about two
hours tops before you're...
actually, I don't even know what
they'd do to you for this.
VI
It was Shane.
ANDREW
Your funny little friend?
VI
(hits him on the arm)
He is not 'funny'!
(and again)
Or 'little'!
ANDREW
Ow! Right, right! Fine! What did
you tell him? Please don't say
everything.
She doesn't have to. She winces, and Andrew groans.
ANDREW (cont'd)
We're buggered. We are well and
truly up the fishsticks without a
ripple here.
VI
We're what?
ANDREW
(off paper)
Is that your assignment?
Vi realises she's still holding the paper.
VI
Oh, yeah, Glenda gave it to me.
She starts to open it, but Andrew snatches it away.
ANDREW
Hannah can do it.
VI
But - -
ANDREW
No! 'But' is not a word that comes
out of your mouth today.
Understand? Not even in a funny
way.
VI
(sags)
Fine.
Andrew doesn't look at the assignment either. He tucks the
paper into his pocket, and as he does, we:
CUT TO:
INT. THE COMPANY - SECURITY OFFICE - NEXT
As a SECURITY GUARD leans into frame, headset on, he reaches
for the volume control on a desk in front of him.
ANDREW
(filtered)
Now. The important thing here is
not to panic...
Andrew's voice comes from the speakers, and as we PULL BACK
we take in the rest of the office - a map of the Company
building covers one wall, swamped by blinking DOTS.
ANDREW (cont'd)
For the rest of the day, we are to
behave as absolutely normal.
VI
(filtered)
Got it.
ANDREW
As long as we keep this between us,
we'll be just fine, and hopefully
so will Shane 'I Know Something You
Don't Know' Evans.
The Guard reaches for a phone, dialling an extension number.
GUARD
(into phone)
Sir? It's Shenley, down in
Security. We have a situation.
Listening to the response, the Guard turns and punches in the
name 'Shane Evans' on a keyboard.
A computer screen scrolls down a list of search results,
striking them out as it cross references them with both Vi
and Andrew - until Shane's name and address are left.
CUT TO:
INT. EVANS' RESIDENCE - SHANE'S ROOM - NEXT
Shane lies back on his bed, flicking through TV channels.
Eventually, he flicks the set off and sits in silence for a
moment longer.
He picks up his mobile, dials in a number and waits for an
answer as we:
CUT TO:
INT. WICKER RECORDS - SHOP FLOOR - DAY
With music blaring from the speakers, JIMMY is at his desk,
fiddling unsuccessfully with some kind of plastic tag round a
CD case.
Over by the front door, a new SECURITY BARRIER is in place.
He reaches for his ringing phone, glad of the distraction. He
rolls his eyes when he sees Shane's name.
JIMMY
(into phone)
Look, mate, if this is about that
girl again, then I'm sorry we
exchanged such harsh words about
her. If it's about your mum and
dad, then, well...
SHANE
(filtered; through phone)
It's alright, Jimmy. I just wanted
to... talk.
JIMMY
(surprised)
Oh. Oh, right. Well, uh... yeah.
Talking... talking is good.
INTERCUT:
SHANE
What're you up to?
JIMMY
Oh, you know. Just trying something
new out.
He holds up the CD again, still locked in its plastic case.
He shakes it a few times, trying to free it.
JIMMY (cont'd)
(defeated)
And, like most new things, it's
turning out to be a crushing,
bitter disappointment...
(beat)
Are you sure you're not going to
yell at me?
SHANE
Yeah, I'm sure.
JIMMY
Because, you know, I was all braced
and ready for it. Had this face I
was going to make to show how sorry
I was and everything.
SHANE
(grins)
Not needed. But thanks. Face
pulling is the mark of a true
apology. No... I've got bigger
things to worry about now.
JIMMY
Women?
SHANE
Women.
JIMMY
Girl-Shane?
(corrects himself)
Violet?
SHANE
She... she told me something the
other night, and I'm not sure I...
well, I don't think anybody
could... it was all just so...
JIMMY
Woop! Woop! Emo Alert! Look, you
can tell me. Whatever it is.
SHANE
She just told me some stuff, and
I'm not sure I believe it. But it's
important to her. At least, it
seemed important to her.
(sighs)
I just don't know.
(beat)
Maybe if I - -
WOOP! WOOP! An actual alarm goes off this time - in the
record store. Jimmy fumbles the phone, startled.
SHANE (cont'd)
Jimmy? What's that?
JIMMY
(rapid)
New alarm gotta go talk later bye.
He hangs up, leaving a bemused Shane to stare at his phone.
CUT TO:
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.